Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-01
'virgiiniatoBegin
Construction OF
New Roads Soon
Complex Signal Setup
Will Be Installed
On Lee Highway
By John v. Horner

BY John v. Horner
Virginia is prepared to begin .
large highway development program
in the congested Arlington-Fairfax
area, including the construction Of
new roads, improvement of existing
thoroughfares and adoption Of q
new system of traffic signal controls.
The most important project to be
undertaken in the immediate future
is the long-awaited replacement Of
Glebe road with a four lane high
way. The State plans to begin this
construction in the late summer or
early fall.
Among the major jobs approved.
some Of which cannot be completed
Immediately. are traffic separation
structure at the intersection Of
Glebe road and Lee boulevard. the
widening of Lee boulevard to six
lanes on the stretch nearest the
Potmac River, and a partial by
pass for Falls Church.
Signal System Is Complex.
For immediate alienation of traf-
fic congestion, the State Highway
Department is ready to install
complex system of traffic control
signals-first of it's kind In the
United States-on the Lee highway,
Route 211.
Under the system, two of the
three traffic lanes will be used by
Washington-bound vehicles during
the morning rush period, and two
lanes will be used by outbound
vehicles during the afternoon rush
hours. In off-peak periods. the
center lane will be used for passing
traffic in either direction.
These disclosures were made by
Gen. James A. Anderson, Virginia
highway commissioner. in a COM
munication with John H. King, Falls
Church civic worker Mr.. King had
written to inquire about Virginia's
plans to handle the steadily-in-
creasing load of vehicular traffic in
the metropolitan area.
Gen. Anderson assured MIR. King
that the State Highway Department
recognizes the problems to be faced
in the Rosslyn area upon COM
pletion of the K street viaduct on
on the Georgetown side OF the
Potomac. The Commissioner said
his department has drawn plans
both for these and for various long
range projects.
EoirfoS nrsu 40
The long-range program includes
the WIDENING of Lee highway to
four lanes. But Gen. Anderson
said some years" would elapse be-
fore this project can be undertaken
because of previous commitments,
more pressing needs and the high,
cost involved. 1st bon r.
The traffic burden on Lee highway
will be relieved, however, by the
extension of Fairfax drive from a
point near Fort Myer to East Falls
Church. Such a thoroughfare has
been under consideration for a
long time. A four-lane road, it
will be completed within the next
few years Gen. Anderson esti-
mated it would take from 1000 to
10000 vehicles per day of Route I'll.
The commissioner said the State
and Arlington County are particle
pating in the connection of the
Spout Run parkway, the Federal
Government network on the Vir-
ginia side of the Potomac, with
Lee highway. This project is ex-
pected to be completed within a
year and will connect with the
George Washington Memorial park
way.
Gen Anderson said Route so,
known as Lee boulevard, has lust
about reached its trafic capacity
on the stretch between the District
and its intersection with Washing
ton boulevard, in the Fort Myer
vicinity. Plans have been drawn
to increase the width Of Lee boule-
ward from four to six lanes, from
North Tenth street to the river.
This improvement will follow i'm
mediately the completion of Fairfax
driev.
Delayed by Right-of- Way Trouble.
The highway commissioner at
tributed delays in the Glebe
road improvement to right-of way
trouble. 1t also was necessary, he
said, to work out cooperative ar
rangement with Arlington in re-
gard to storm sewers.
Inclusion of a separation struc-
ture at the intersection of Glebe
and Lee boulevard Is regarded as
of paramount Importance to tariff
flow.
1t will enable the boulevard to
handle much heavier load, Gen.
Anderson declared.
The partial bypass for Falls
Church will parallel railroad tracks
between Lee highway and Route 7,
the Leesburg pike. Gen Anderson
did not specify its length but he
said the Highway Department Is
studying the feasibility of a COM
plete bypass for this badly con-
gested community.
Al n an