Evening star., 1948-09-10
ST, 100000 Underposs Opens
In Silver Spring Tomorrow
By J. B. Zotmon

III 0nV6 0PfHiS
By J. B. Zotmon
On a warm night in June, 10 years
ago, a group Of businessmen met in
Silver Spring and decided to launch
drive for a new underpass at
Georgia avenue and the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad tracks.
The result OF that meeting and
of the campaign that followed is
the new 100000 underpass which
will be opened officially at 2 pm.
tomorrow when Gov. Lane cuts a
ribbon.
The ceremonies will mark the COM
pletion of a project which required
IA months time and involved the
repaving of Georgia avenue from
East-West highway to Colesville
road. The repaving cost an addi-
tional $1,00o,0O0.
Old One Built in 1928.
Almost Immediately after the old
underpass was built in 1928. 1t be-
came the subject of criticism. Dur
ing heavy rains, it was flooded,
stalling motorists and forcing de-
tours. In addition, there were hun
dreds of accidents, including several
fatalities, when automobiles and
trucks struck the center support of
cff%11nfI1rn
The criticism was climaxed by the
meeting of the Silver Spring Busi-
Inessmen's Association, which later
became the Board of Trade. Presid-
ing at the session was Winship I.
Green, then Silver Spring manager
of Griffith & Perry, Inc, coal and
oil dealers.
Mr.. Green, who Is now vice presi-
dent of the Farmers Banking &
Trust Co., Rockville, appointed
three-man committee to spearhead
the drive for a new underpass.
Members Of the group were William
F. Carlin, real estate man, who was
named chairman; Mr.. Green and
the late Raymond E. Barrett, filling
station operator.
Enlisted Board Aid.
The next step was to enlist the
support of the Montgomery County
Commissioners who by that time
were headed by Paul M. Coughlan.
Mr.. Carlin then sent letters to
Senators Tydings and Radcliffe,
Democrats, of Maryland and to Rep
resentative Lewis of the 9Th district,
asking their aid in obtaining Fed
eral funds.
At the same time, the committee
circulated 4 petition among prop
erty owners and businessmen in the
community and had conferences
with representatives Of the Bureau
of Public Roads, State Roads Com
mission, the railroad, Maryland-Na-
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, the county commits
sioners, the county's delegation to
the General Assembly and local civic
groups. Among those who aided in
the drive was E. Brooke Lee, now
vice chairman of the planning COM
mission,
1t wasn't all smooth sailing, as
attested by a letter from Mr.. Carlin
to Thomas E. Hampton. president OF
the Board of County Commissioners,
in october, 1899.
I'VE are very much disappointed" "
Mr.. Carlin wrote, that your board
has failed up to this date to take
action on the proposed changes to
the underpass as set forth in plans
and specifications of the Baltimore
g. Ohio Railroad"
War Shelved Plans.
The commissioners subsequently
did act and in 1910, the Bureau OF
P6blic Roads allocated $360,00O te
the State Roads Commission fol
the work. But the war forced the
commission to shelve the plans.
At the end of the war, the COM
mittee put renewed pressure on the
commission and the Bureau OF Pub
lie Roads when it was found tina,
the funds allocated In 1910 were
inadequate. Finally, the necessary
money was obtained from the State
and Federal Government and work
started in the summer of 1947.
The enthusiasm with which Silver
Spring plans to greet the opening
of the underpass is understandable
in view of the estimated $4,000, ,o0t
loss suffered by merchants as re.
suit of the blocking of Georgia ave-
tnue.
Two 36-FoOt Drives.
The new underpass will have two
36-foot drives with 6-foot sidewalks
on each side and a 10-foot island II
the center Approximately 300 ton'
of structural steel, 5,100 cubic yard.
of poured concrete, 1900 feet o.
balustrade railing and 225 tons o1
reinforced steel bars were used II
its construction.
One of the biggest jobs in connec'
ton with the underpass was ths
construction of 100000 storm
water sewer from the underpass te
the District line at Sixteenth street