Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-29
Monticello Highway
From D. {. Proposed
To General Assembly
By q stoff Correspondent Of The Siar

10 UeneTdI Assembly
By sfoff Correspondent Of The Stor
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. "a
recommendation that proposed
Monticello highway connect the
Thomas jefferson Memorial in
Washington with the third Presi-
dents home just outside Charlottes-
vile was put before the General AS
sembly today by the State Highway
Department.
Two routes were proposed be-
tween Culpeper and Charlottesville.
One would be by way OF Madison
ana Ruckersville, ever route 20, and
the other would utilize route IS to
a proposed bypass around Orange
and route 231 from Gordonsville to
Monticello.
OF the two plans, the commission
recommends route 20.
The highway department, through
Gen. James A. Anderson, chairman,
Yesterday submitted a detailed plan
and recommended it be constructed
in stages, using existing highways,
wherever possible. The plan re-
ouires construction of about rs miles
of new roadway which would be TAX
of new roadway which would be
taken into the States primary sys-
tenn.
Would Start at Memorial.
Beginning at the Jefferson Me-
mortal in Washington, the proposed
route would run over the Shirley
Memorial highway, which by-passes
most of Alexandria, to point north
of Springfield. Fairfax County.
About 10 miles of new construction
would extend the roadway from the
Shirley highway, running north OF
the Southern Railway tracks through
points north of Burke, Fairfax Sta
ton and Clifton, to connect with
route % north Of Manassas.
The business section of Manassas
would be by-passed and the road
way would continue to the south
west to connect with route 20 at o.
near Remington. It would follow
route 20 through Culpeper, Madi-
son and Ruckersville to Charlottes-
vile, where about 6 miles Of new
construction would be needed to by
pass most of that city to Jeffer-
sons home.
The alternate plan is the same
as far as Culpeper. There the road
would follow route Is to bypass
at Orange and 1oute 231 through
Gordonsville directly to Monticello.
The alternate route is about s
miles shorter and also follows more
nearly the route taken by Jefferson
on trips between his home and
Washington.
Explanation Is Given.
Gen. Anderson gave these reasons,
however, for recommending the first
route:
Route 20 is more heavily Travelled
and that highway Is scheduled for
ultimate development as a four
lane highway and would be devel-
oped to that width even if the Mon
ticello highway were routed else
where.
If the Monticello highway fol-
lowed the alternate plan and re-
quired a four-lane treatment, 1t
would cost $4,e0o,0o0 more than the
departments 20-year plan of high
way construction, now well under
way.
M. T. McManaway, Manassas,
executive secretary of the Month
cello Highway Committee, said that
group is "gratifled" over Gen. An
dersons recommendations.
The report is the result of joint
resolution by Senator John S. Bat
tie of Charlottesville, who sponsored
it last year.
Gen. Anderson's report said it is
of major Importance that the sug-
gested 106-mile route lies entirely
within one highway construction
district and that all of the funds for
construction and improvement will
have to come from the Culpeper
district.
S16,O00,O00 Cost Seen.
He said a four-lane highway on
a new location could not be con-
structed for less than $4,000 per
mile, making the total for such a
project. $l6,000,000.
In a detailed report on traffic
studies. engineering surveys and
other problems facing the Highway
Department, Gen. Anderson. esti-
mated the cost within the near
future at $6,848, 100 to build the high
way as a two-lane heavy-duty
thoroughfare.
The departments 20-year plan al
ready had contemplated certain i'm
provements, such as strengthening
roadbeds, Strengthening curves and
improving grades. These would have
amounted to $5,978, TAO, with the ex-
cess cost for dual-lane type of de-
velopment amounting only to $685.
$40, Gen. Anderson pointed out.
The report showed that if initial
construction was of a four-lane de-
sign on those portions contemplated
under the long-range program, the
excess cost would be $1,000, 900.
Excess Cost Put at $4,189, 40.
If existing roads are made four
fame at rate already planned.
this, plus new construction and i'm
|provements, eventually would bring
the total cost of the Monticello