Evening star., 1947-08-10
Work Gets Under Way on First
OF Twin Spans Over Potomac

Buildings in that area of the city
will be served by this plant.
A feature of the project is a seven
foot-square tunnel under Rock Creek
for two 20-inch steam mains.
Many have asked why construc-
ton began at the top of the build
ing frame work rather than on the
ground. Mr.. Key explained that
materials were on hand to go ahead
at the top and such construction
can be started anywhere on a steel
structure Commissioner of Public
Buildings w. E. Reynolds jokingly
was asked recently when he was
going to turn the building upside
down so it could be placed properly
on the foundation.
The power plant proper will cost
between $5,00o,00O and 100000,
Mr.. Key said.
Another major District Highway
Department project is proceeding
on the K street elevated highway
for automobile traffic to nearby
Maryland and Virginia.
Project to Cost 1924, 900.
The project calls for spending So
294,000 and completion by January
/, 1949. Excavation began July 26,
near the Key Bridge, at Thirty sixth
and M streets NV, in the bed of
the old Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
An Interesting phase Of this de-
tvelopnent is the temporary dam
ming Of the old canal to permit con-.
| struetion of two piers to SUPPORT
the approach roads from M street
and Key Bridge. These two concrete,
piers now are being built In the
center OF the canal, just across from
1.-THE headquarters of the Capital
Transit Co. Officials explained that
when the piers are completed the
canal and tow path will be restored.
Water is expected in that section of
the canal this fall.
Meanwhile, it is understood that
commercial projects along the canal,
depending on the water there for
operation, are having their electric
power bills paid for by the con-
tractor for the K street overpass.
The sightseeing barge. operated
under auspices of the National Capt.
tai Parks, will be able to pass the
two concrete piers in the canal, Of
f1cials said.
Excavation Is Begun.
The firm of Alexander & Repass
of Des Moines. Iowa, has the con-
tract for the K street elevated high
way.
Excavation was under way last
week on K street, near Key Bridge,
for the main piers of the new high
way. These will carry the steel COL
umns, set on concrete blocks, to
support the main elevated structure.
Carl A. Wilson, resident engineer
for the bridge division of the Dis
trict Highway Department, ex-
planned the project will run from
Thirty sixth to Twenty seventh
streets on K. The existing overpass
across Rock Greek will be extended
as it was built with that in mind,
Mr.. Wilson said At the Rock Creek
and Potomac Parkway end of the
project, the concrete will be faced
with stone to match the present
structure. Mr.. Wilson said the ele-
vated highway will have ornamen-
tai lights on the main part, but in
direct lighting will be used on the
Key Bridge approach and Rock
Greek crossings.
The Des Moines firm has another
major District contract in the con-
struction of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad underpass at Riggs road
NE. This $160,000 job is expected
to be completed about October IS.
Railroad Tracks Moved.
Two abutments and a center pier
are being erected there. John S.
Watkins, resident engineer FOR the
District Government, explained the
railroad tracks had to be moved
north onto a temporary wooden
trestle as detour for the trains
there. The tracks are expected to
be moved back about October Is on
the main line.
The temporary trestle and the
earthen embankment supporting 1t
will have to be removed later, Mr..
Watkins said.
Meanwhile, Riggs road in that
section is being paved with con-
crete by another contra ctor, as one
of the major paving jobs in the
District under the postwar program.
There are number of other
projects now under way by the Dis
trict Highway Department to facil-
itate the movement of traffic.
Included in these are the South
Capitol street bridge across the Ana
costa River; the Dupont Circle
underpass and the three bridges
in the Klingle road grade-separa-
tion-project in Rock Greek Park.
Recently completed are the traf-
fic islands" at Pennsylvania and
Minnesota avenues Sc, designed to
make automobiles follow the proper
channel. with three lanes of traffic
on each side. The DalecarIia park
way, between Loughboro road and
Massachusetts, avenue NV. has re-
Gently been completed, opening a
double highway in that section Of
the city.