Evening star., 1949-09-01
Big Interchange
To Link D. +. 10
2Expressways 7
Plan Would Extend
New York Avenue
To Anucostiu River

CACCllSlOll VI NC" 4Ol n dNCIIuo
NE. from Bladensburg road to
the Anacostia River, and con-
struction of a far-flung traffic in
terchange in the Kenilworth
(MdD area are planned to give
the District an elaborate gateway
for the new Washington-Balti-
more superhighway and Wash
ngton-Annapolis expressway.
Work on the interchange awaits
congressional action of re-
quested $11,000,000 for the 1917
mile Washington-Baltimore high
way stretch from Fort Meade to
the District line, Public Works
Administration engineers said to-
day.
Paving of the New York ave-
nue. extension also will be at a
standstill until it can be Co
ordinated" with the two dual
highways that are to meet at the
proposed Kenilworth interchange,
District Highway Department Of
ficials declared.
District Ready.
The District has completed land
acquisition, surveys and prelim-
mary grading. The highway. de-
partment said it will be ready
to 60 ahead with our part Of tho
project as soon as the authorities
are set to go on the other side Of
the line
Final designs and cost esti-
mates for the interchange are
not yet available. PRA officials
disclosed, however, that the lay
out will shape up something like
this:
1t will resemble a huge triangle.
The two long sides are to branch
out as separate roads from a
bridge to be built where the ex-
tended section of New York ave-
nue. crosses the river. The high.
way arm to the left, leaving the
bridge into Maryland, will connect
with the new Washington-Balti-
more parkway. The arm to the
right will link with the WASH
ington- Annapolis expressway.
A fork will branch off from
each of the main roads and curve
within the triangular area so that
traffic from the Washington
Baltimore highway can reach the
Washington Annapolis highway.
and vice versa. The two curving
forks will cross at an underpass
arrangement. AS they continue
on into the two superhighways
they will form the upper arm of
the interchange triangle.
Several Stages in Project.
The point at which New York
avenue extended will cross the
river is a short distance from
where the Pennsylvania Railroad
now crosses. A future highway
textension may be built from that
point down the Anacostia valley.
according to Harold j. Spelman,
PRA division engineer
AS envisioned by Mr.. Spelman
and Joseph Barnett of the PRA
Urban Roads Division. the COM
plex problem of the interchange
is planned for construction in
several stages.
One stage would be the extension
of New York avenue. District
highway officials explain this
would consist largely of paving
present undeveloped stretch from
Bladensburg road to South Dakota
avenue and the river. Part Of
the stretch would go through
Federal property at the National
Training School grounds. 1t also
would cross the railroad by over
pass. The bridge over the Ana
costa probably would be built
under PRA jurisdiction.
Other stages would be connect
the New York avenue extension
with the new Washington -Balti-
more highway by means Of the
triangular interchange, and with
the Washington Annapolis express.
way. as well as to build the in
terror looping roads.
Route Not Fixed.
The exact route of the WASH
ington Annapolis expressway, as
it approaches Washington, has not
yet been definitely fixed. Mary
land authorities have announced
that no matter what route is fol-
lowed the new highway will enter
Washington at the Kenilworth
interchange.
The Washington Baltimore
parkway, a modern dual highway
project with no grade crossings or
entrances and exits except at 10
interchanges. including the Kenil-
worth interchange, Is under con-
struction in some sections. The
over all project has been underway
for several years. Maryland has
supervision over the work from
j Baltimore to Fort Meade. This
will cost about $15,000.000.
PRA already has spent about
81, 900 900 for surveys, grading and
drainage on several miles of the
planned route from Fort Meade
to the District. Bills have been
introduced in Congress to obtain
another $11 ,000.0 900 necessary for
construction.