Evening star., 1949-10-28
K Street Traffic
Riseof 1880
Cars Studied
Freewoy Causing
Drivers to Change
Road Route Habits

Road Route Habits
Since the Whitehurst Freeway
was opened on October 8, there
has been an increase of 1890
cars per day on K street. west Of
Twenty-fourth street NV. near
Washington Circle, District Of
flcials revealed today.
Some of this traffic uses the
freeway, and some goes under the
traffic artery in Georgetown by
way of K street, over which the
"skyway" is built.
For the freeway is causing
Washington area motorists to
change their driving habits, Of
ficials said. The authorities are
studying recent traffic counts and
comparing them with those OBJ
tanned before the freeway opened
to get a picture of traffic trends
brought about by the new facility.
Another striking fact, revealed
by the figures, officials pointed out,
is that 1922 additional cars have
been attracted daily to the area
near the Washington end of Key
Bridge. Part of this traffic uses
M street in Georgetown, because
less crowded traffic conditions
there now make it a more inviting
thoroughfare. The rest of it uses
the freeway itself, which runs
from Rock Greek to the Key
Bridge, and was designed to re-
lieve M street congestion.
Problem Studied.
The increased traffic at Wash.
ington Circle is a problem to the
authorities. who are studying ways
OF relieving it. Traffic Director
George E. Keneipp and Highway
Director j. N. Robertson are max
ing personal inspections from time
to time of traffic conditions there.
A proposed underpass at WASH
lngton Circle, where K street and
Pennsylvania avenue intersect, is
being given fresh consideration.
Mr.. Robertson said, in the light
OF changing conditions. This
would be constructed in the line
of K street.
Owing to the great influx Of
additional cars into the area.
traffic at Washington Circle has
been tied up recently as much as
20 minutes or more. Traffic has
been stalled as far back from the
circle as Twentieth street on
Pennsylvania avenue, and In both
directions along New Hampshire
avenue. Twenty-third and K
streets.
New and larger trafic signs at
freeway approaches to aid mo-
torists now are being planned by
the traffic department. The au-
thorities believe some motorists
still are experimenting with the
freeway and there is great deal
OF sightseeing. because the ele-
waited motorway opens up new
v1stas of the Potomac waterfront.
Conclusions Reached.
Poring over traffic counts, Of.
f1cials have reached these con-
clusions:
l. Whitehurst Freeway traffic u
now remaining constant at about
10000 cars average for "a hours.
1t was built to handle $4,000
daily by 1880.
2. Washington Circle traffic has
been increased by at least 5000
cars daily.
3. M street in Georgetown has
not been relieved of traffic as
much as had been expected by
the opening Of the freeway.
4. Traffic originating in the vi
cinity of American University
adds to the traffic load, both on
the freeway and M street.
John H. Milton, Traffic Depart
ment engineer, said that, partly
because of the Dupont Circle un-
derpasS construction, drivers are
using other routes to see if they
can improve their driving time.
There has been a noticeable in
crease of traffic on Foxhall road
and Canal road NV. since tho
freeway opened. he observed.
The District Highway Depart
ment said: Before the freeway
opened, the daily average of cars
on M street, just east of Key
Bridge, was 36,510, and this
dropped to 23,802 after the new
artery opened. On K street west
of Twenty.fourth street NV.
there were 1882 cars using that
route. but now traffic there has
jumped to 1912. On PennSyl-
vania avenue. west of Twenty
fourth street, before the freeway
opened there were 1881 cars.
and this dropped to 1888 after