Evening star., 1946-04-25
Freeway Route
Farther West
To Be Studied
But Lee Says Park
Groups Views Are
Entirely Advisory

Lie NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CdQlCal
Park and Planning Commission will
make study of a route for the
proposed Northwest Freeway to the
west of the States controversial
"800-foot strip" which would place
the route through or near highly
developed Montgomery County sub
urbs, Park Commissioner E. Brooke
Lee declared last night.
At mass meeting of about $50
property owners last night in the
Landon School for Boys, Mr.. Lee
asserted: 1T is my considered
opinion that the commission will
recommend western route"
He referred to a plan which the
cltlzens approved by resolution, to
relocate the superhighway further
to the west and thus avoid passing
through or close by Bradley Hills
and other Bradley boulevard resi-
Dental developments, Woodacres
and other highly urbanized COM
munltles. The citizens recon-
mended that the project pass from
Macarthur boulevard extended in
the vicinity of Cabin John and
northWard in the area parallel to
Seven Locks road and Thomas
Branch Valley.
State Group to Select Site.
The park commissioner empha-
sized, however, that the project is to
be constructed with Federal funds
on right of way that the State
Roads Commission will select and
which must meet prescribed stand
ards as to grades, curvatures and
other factors of the Public Roads
Administration.
You may think that you, the
county commissioners and the Park
and Planning Commission have the
final say in the selection of the
route" he said, "but you will find
that all we can do is to advise the
State and Federal governments
where We want it located"
Mr.. Lee said he could not assure
property owners that the State
would follow the recommendations
OF the Park and Planning Commits
sion Tor another route, but that the
county already has enhanced its
position by action of the county
commissioners more than two weeks
ago. This action was to authorize
a bond issue to raise funds to pur-
chase rights of way along a route
satisfactory to the majority of per-
sons and agencies involved.
Position Held Strengthened.
The fact that the county COM
missioners have expressed a Wiling
ness to make the proceeds of a bond
issue available to purchase a right
Of way clearly strengthens the posi-
ton of both the county commits
sioners and the local planning COM
mission In urging the support and
se1ection by the State and Federal
at horities of an appropriate right
OF way which will meet the REQUIRE
ments OF both local and through
traffic and at the same time not
unnecessarily disrupt existing COM
munities or road improvements or
require the acquisition of too ex-
pensive a right of way" he said.
1T should be remembered that this
cou&ty money will be returned 3. !.
whe'l the freeway actually is built"
Mr.. Lee was accompanied by Fred
w. Tuemmler, director of planning
for the commission, and the two of
them placed before the mass meet
1Ag all available information as to
plans, both local and before the
State Roads Commission, being con-
sidered for the freeway.
BY an elaborate system of lantern
slides, maps and photographs of the
States preliminary survey and the
Planning Commissions own studies.
residents of the areas were brought
up to date on the progress of plans.
which still are indefinite.
State officials Letter Read.
Quoting from letter from Robert
M. Reindollar, chairman of the State
Roads Commission, which he had
received only the day before, Mr.,
Lee disclosed the following informa-
ton:
The 800-foot strip for which aerial
Photographic surveys were made "is
@Aoo AAA aA1y cS12oC Vic llIldl lOCdGlOIl
which will be adopted in connection
with the ultimate construction of
this route"
After map covering the 8O0-foot
strip was received in this Office, >
Mr.. Reindollar's letter continued,
"one of the men from the right-of-
way department was Immediately
sent out into the field to determine
what right-of-way problems would
be encountered, and also to assemble
all available data with regard to
existing and proposed subdivisions
and spot them on this map.
1T is perfectly apparent, from the
progress which has been made in
this connection up to the present
time, that deviations will have to be
made from this tentative location in
order to obtain satisfactory line,
and at the same time do the least
possible damage to established sub
divisions and valuable home sites
Local Aid Offer Accepted.
The State head accepted an offer
by Mr.. Lee to furnish local planning
commission survey parties and Office
personnel to assist in further studies.
He emphasized that the project-a
relocation of route 240-has not
been set for the current year. 80 !.
We were handicapped in placing
our own personnel on this particular
project at this time until we had
completed work which is pro-
grammed within this fiscal year and
which must be completed and under
project agreement prior to June
80, 1947," the letter continued. 1--WE
appreciate your offer of cooperation
in order that the proper loca-
tion can be established more readily
and the solution given to the resi-
dents of Montgomery County at an
earlier date than would be possible
II we had to rely entirely on our own
forces to do this work."
Mr.. Lee also disclosed information
his Office had received from Mr.
Reindollar and Chief Engineer Will
son T. Ballard by telephone yester-
day afternoon. While the Public
Roads Administration requires q
right OF way of from 300 to 400 feet
in width If occanfe ,,,;,;,,oo 80 1Eo