Evening star., 1951-09-14
Planners Give
Green Light 10
L. Capitol Span
Underposs Problem
Involving Main West
Approach Unsettled
By Nelson M. Shepard

The Districts final plans for
the new $12 million East Capitol
street bridge were approved today
by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, with the
single exception of tough un-
derpass problem" involving the
main west approach.
Today's action virtually gives
the green light to the District
Highway Department to go ahead
with engineering specifications for
the. structure itself.
The obstacle that stood in the
way of complete approval today
was the plan for a four-block
long underpass connecting the new
bridge with the southeast area
under the Pennsylvania Railroad
and Minnesota avenue, according
to Blair Lee, assistant NCPPC di-
rector.
Regarded as Compromise.
John N. Robertson, highway di.
rector, presented the plans
which planning officials regard az
"a compromised the morning
session of the Federal group. Fur
ther consideration. it was pointed
out, must be given to this under
pass problem, although officials
said it should not interfere with
the Districts plan to 60 ahead
with construction, so far as the
Planning Commission is concerned.
More detailed plans of the
structure and approaches are to
be made public later at the Dis
trict Building, but planning offi-
cials released enough data to give
a general idea of some of the
thoroughfare difficulties which re-
main to be ironed out.
The planning commission yes
terday made a personal inspec-
ton of the approaches to the
bridge with particular emphasis
to the western portion, where the
35-acre parade ground, sports
center and recreational area are
affected.
They made it clear today they
were dissatisfied with the proposed
ramp leading out of the proposed
depressed East Capitol street to
Ridge road and Minnesota avenue,
which would be at grade level.
Design Is Approved.
They approved, however, the
clover leaf design to connect the
bridge with Kenilworth avenue
west of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road tracks.
One Of the prime problems in
volved in the general plan for the
approaches was presented by this
elevated route out of East Capitol
street, it was said. The Districts
plans also called for extending the
west seawall of Kingman Lake a
considerable distance eastward.
The necessary earth fill-in was
approved.
Before going out this afternoon
on another field trip in the Mary
land suburbs, the commission
approved with considerable en-
Ithusiasm" the Highway Depart
ment's plan for relocating Fif-
Iteenth street through the WASH
ington Monument grounds.
Mr.. Lee said this would improve
two very bad traffic intersections.
The first is at Fifteenth street and
Independence avenue. the other at
Fourteenth street and jefferson
drive in the middle of the Mall.
Infirmary Plans Approved.
The commission also approved
IA location selected in the grounds
of the Home for the Aged and
Inflrm at Blue Plains for a new
Iinf1rmary and ward building. This
was done after checking the loca-
ton against the tentative access
roads to the proposed Alexandria
bridge, which would touch at
Shepherds Landing.
Earlier planners came out into
the open to reveal how they
would like to have Congress set
up specific directions for forming
and regulating the controversial
Regional Planning Council, pro-
posed for inclusion in a new
NCPPC reorganization bill.
Before the bill should be offered
for Introduction, they stressed, it
would be most helpful to iron out
with suburban planning agencies
all existing obstacles relating to
the organization of the proposed
council.
The Planning Commission is now
engaged in writing its own bill
as a substitute for the ill-fated
measure, which was withdrawn by
a Senate District subcommittee
on August %. For the reasons
stated, NCPPC took no action
late Yesterday but .'irected fur.
(See PLANNING. Page A-4.)