Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-01-27
Deadlock Reported
In Anacostia BRIDGE
Planning Session

suhIsfisiS SSSSiVu
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and the
District Commissioners were dead
locked today on the question of
another bridge across the Ana
costa River.
The planning commission fatty
vetoed the city heads proposal to
build bridge along the line of
East Capitol street, at the close
of a day-long session yesterday.
Moreover, the planners ruled, no
further consideration should be
given to any new bridge across
the Anacostia until provisions
have been made to clear up bottle
necks around the existing cross
ings and to bring their capacities
up to maximum.
The issue now may land in the
lap of Congress, where the city
heads 1851 budget estimates al
ready are pending. These include
an item of more than $4,000, 900
for the first phase of construc-
ton on the proposed new bridge.
U. s. Would Share Cost.
The District would share this
cost with the Federal Government,
since the work is proposed as
Federal aid project.
The planning commissions &C
ton in withholding approval of
any new bridge over the Anacos-
tia until the present ones are
brought up to capacity came as
q surprise. .
The meeting was expected to
decide simply whether the next
bridge across the Anacostia
should be located at East Capitol
street. as advocated by the Com
missioners, or at Massachusetts,
avenue, long favored by it's own
staff.
But Supt. Irving c. Root of
National Capital Parks apparent
! ly struck harmonic note for the
planners when he called the Ben
ming, Sousa and Anacostia cross
ings 'lazy bridges"
Wants DISTINCTIONS Cleared.
He said that bridges, like
water lines, function to their full
capacity only Ii they are without
distractions" He declared that
corrective measures must be TAX
en- at the approaches of the three
bridges If this is to be accomp-
liShed.
The planning commission, he
suggested. could give attention
to first things first" by recon-
mending to the District immedi-
ate correction Of distractions to
the existing bridges.
D. S. Brinkley, planning engi-
neer for the District Highway De-
partment, said, however, after the
meeting, that corrective work at
the three bridges, bringing their
total capacity up about 1000 cars
a day, would cost as much as a
new crossing, which would afford
an added capacity of $4,000.
Bottlenecks involved would in
clude those at Barney Circle, the
Minnesota avenue end of the
Benning Bridge. Fifteenth and H
streets Me-. and the northern ap-
proach to the Anacostia Bridge. /
Double underpass Studied.
Earlier In the day, Engineer
Commissioners Gordon r. Young
had said the District had gone
SO far as to study the possibility
of a double underpass at Fifteenth
and H streets NE, which might
cost from 100000 to $4,000 900.
Mr.. Root. in his remarks, agreed
with the Highway Department
that an additional bridge over
the Anacostia is needed immedi-
ately, but he suggested that the
crossing serve to connect the
Washington Baltimore Parkway.
now under construction, with the
Districts street system.
He pointed out Maryland and
the City of Baltimore already
have invested $4,000 in con-
struction OF the northerly portion
Of the parkway and that the Fed
eral Government has acquired the
remaining right of way to the
District line and begun construc-
ton Of the southerly portion at
. cost of more than $1,500,oo0
A principal object of the park
way. he went on, is to reduce the
appalling" number of accidents
on U. s. Route No. l between
Baltimore and Washington, where
81 persons were killed in the 1s
months preceding this year.
Crossing Comparison Cited.
He urged that any funds for
Q new span of the Anacostia be
devoted ito a crossing that will
serve $4,000 daily, as compared
with the 39,869 daily crossing for
O recommended East Capitol
street bridge"
MIR. Root warned the planning
commission the parkway sis creep
ing up on u.s. and that it would
be knocking on our door before
we are even ready for it," if
planning were not begun.
He spoke In favor of a crossing
that would connect with Maryland
avenue and M street.
Both Mr.. Root and John Nolen,
tr., commission planning director
warned against anything that
would jeopardize or restrict the