Evening star., 1949-07-24
Spout Run Link
OF Parkway May
Be Ready in Fall
Bids to Subsurfuce
1.6 Mile of Grade
To Be Asked Soon
By Nelson IA. Shepard

Federal road officials are about
to take a long-awaited step in
completing the scenic Spout Run
link in the George Washington
Memorial parkway by readvertis-
ing for bids to surface the 1.6
miles of grade from Key Bridge to
connecting points with Lorcum
lane and Lee highway in Arling-
ton.
Offers will be invited in a few
days for doing the subsurface
base work. The next phase will bs
to put on the top surfacing. Pro-
vided current prices are accept
able, the Spout Run unit should
be open to the public in the fall.
Meanwhile. the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission is
pressing work in carrying out the
proposed extension of the George
Washington parkway along the
Potomac Palisades to connect with
Chain Bridge. Federal, State and
county funds are available in the
amount of 1925 900, or one half
the cost, to purchase the right
of-way to the water front.
Route Staked Out.
Thomas c. Jeffers, landscape
planner. said the Smile route Of
the road has been staked out and
he estimated minimum of two
years before the entire right-of-
way is acquired through direct
purchase and condemnation.
The Spout Run link, a new di-
vided parkway, was projected to
reduce the congestion at the traf-
f1c bottleneck at Rosslyn Circle by
passing under land span of Key
Bridge. Across to the Key Bridge
on the Virginia side will be pro-
vided. The route was planned
primarily, to carry traffic from
the Lee highway and Cherrydals
more directly to Memorial bridge
and downtown Washington.
! When this vital link and the
Palisades unit are completed, mo-
torists will be provided with one
of the finest scenic approaches to
Washington in this area. Even
tually the George Washington Me-
mortal parkway will extend along
the Virginia side of the river to
/ Great Falls.
Property Owners Reassured.
NCPPC believes that property
owners have little to worry about
in connection with the Develop
ment Of the right-of-way to Chain
Bridge. Officials are endeavorina
to cooperate in saving homesites
wherever possible. The Govern
ment is planning to take all the
; land from the top of the bluffs
to the river. Principal land owner
is the Smoot Sand and Gravel Co..
which has developed rock quarry
on its property. Mr.. Jeffers said
only few private residences will
be affected by the right-of-way.
For months. property owners
have been waiting to know the
lines of the roadway.
The two 24-foot roads will be
separated by irregular strips and
operated as limited access"
roadway. That is a protective
measure park officials feel Is nee
essary. The two roads will be
kept as close together as possible.
! The road will cross North
Branch and Windy Run. Ths
road going up the river will bs
nearest the water, affording the
better view.
400 to 1000 Feet Wide.
officials said the parkway from
the top of the Palisades to the
river will vary in width from 400
to 1000 feet. Federal and Arling-
ton County officials, it was said.
: are studying ways of improving
the landscaping in spots. particu-
larly in the small valleys.
The right way has not yet
been staked out although the
general taking lines are known.
That will be the next step, it was
|: said. 1t will be necessary, also.
to survey the individual proper
ties.
Grading the Spout Run unit
was a costly and difficult job be-
cause of necessary rock blasting.
The Bureau of Public Roads was
in charge of the work, completed
only recently. More than ESQ, 900
yards of dirt were removed.
Amount Reduced.
The Federal Government au-
thorized $3.50, 900 or one-half the
purchase fund for the right-of-
way from Spout Run to Chain
Bridge. Virginia and Arlington
County each had earmarked
$125,000 so that the combined
amount would match the Federal
contribution.
Arlington County, however, was
able to make only $62 $500 immed-
lately available for land acquisi-
ton. AS result, the State re-
duced its amount to $62, 500. The
Federal Government consequent
lily is making only $125,000 avail
able this year.
Next year, officials said, the
same amounts will be contributed
by the three parties to the project.
the completion of which will re-
move all doubts as to the beauty
and utility of a scenic route along
the Potomac.