Evening star., 1949-08-31
New BridgeP Plan
May BoostG
Tax1Centin 81
Another Spon Across
Potomac Is Being
Studied by Experts

Potomac and other highway pro
jects being discussed, the Distric
probably will try to get a 1-cen
increase in the gasoline tax rat,
when authorization for the pres.
ent 4-cents-a-gallon levy expires
June 80, 1852, it was learned to-
day.
Proceeds from the gas tax G,
into the highway fund. The pres
ent rate was granted on a tenn
porary basis under the 1947 reve
nue. act. The rate is scheduled t,
revert back to 3 cents at the enc
Of the 1852 fiscal year.
Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner L. E. Cox said yesterda.
that in view of future construc
ton plans for District highways
officials hope to have the presen
rate maintained and possibly an
other cent added.
New Bridges Planned.
Highway projects which thu
District hopes to undertake in tn,
future include new bridge acros.
the Anacostia River and a twir
to the new Fourteenth street spar
over the Potomac. Field work alst
has been completed on numerou.
other major projects growing ou
of the so-called origin and desti.
nation survey.
Even after completion of tht
Fourteenth street span. still an
other span will be needed to re-
lieve the ever-increasing traffic
congestion, District and Virginia
officials agreed yesterday.
But such a bridge is still year.
in the future. and where it will
cross and how to pay for it are
yet to be settled.
This appeared to be the con-
sensus of some 80 traffic ano
police experts from both sides OF
the river, who met at the May
flower Hotel to air plans and prob
lens. The meeting was called by
the highways and bridges COM
mittee of the District Advisory
Board of the American Automo-
bile Association.
Five Suggested Locations.
No less than five new bridge
locations were brought up fol
consideration. These were:
An extension of Constitution
avenue. suggested by Capt. Marx
Raspberry of Park Police.
An extension of New Hamp-
shire avenue, suggested by Clifton
G. Stoneburner. Arlington County
highway engineer.
A bridge from the Alexandra
traffic circle to the Blue Plains
area, q Fort Drive Bridge and 6
Cabin John Bridge. all Included
in plans of the National Capita
Park and Planning Commission.
Several officials declined to make
specific Recommendations unit
completion of the survey on "ori'
gins and destinations" which ha!
been in progress for nearly TIVE
years.
The officials pointed out the nev
Whitehurst Freeway is expected II
ease the flow of traffic from Ke!
Bridge. when it is opened OF
October !.
Other Plans Offered.
Several other plans to eas'
traffic congestion were offered:
Altering of approaches to Me
mortal Bridge, especially on th'
Virginia side.. where the circl'
might well be eliminated. accord
ing to Irving c. Root, superintend
ent of National Capital Parks.
New consideration of propose
for -four lanes one way. two lane
the other" during rush hours OF
Memorial Bridge.
Resurfacing of Memorial Bridg,
to eliminate the dips near th'
curbs which force traffic init
central lanes.
Increasing Key Bridge to 81,
lanes by using present sidewall
space. This was suggested by Mr.
Stoneburner, who said "cantilever'
sidewalks could be placed outside
the bridge abutments.
AS for the new Highway Bridge
which is to be completed by Janu.
ary of February. Col. Cox sale
plans call for 1t to be used ex-
clusively for Washington- bound
traffic and the present Highway
Bridge. exclusively for Virginia
bound traffic.
Replacement Later.
The second new Highway Bridge
to replace the present one, origi-
nally planned on the present
bridge site. probably will be built
Immediately upstream or down.
stream, Col. Cox said, to keep two
bridges operating while construc-
ton is under way. This work will
probably not begin for another
Ave years, however. he pointed
out.
Washington I. Cleveland, AAA
manager here, who conducted the
meeting, said the reports of the
various officials will be considered
at an early meeting of the High.
ways and Bridges Committee fo,
possible action.
Other speakers included Inspec.
tor Arthur E. Miller. in charge o.
traffic for the Metropolitan Police
s. L. Taylor of the Public Road.
Administration; K. G. McWane O.
the Virginia Department of High
ways; 1t. c. L. Fuller of the Vir.
ginia State Police; S. r. Harrison
deputy director of highways fo!
the District; D. F. Brinkley, high
way planning engineer of the Dis
trict HIGHWAY Department an.