Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-05-10
Park Planners Asked
To Approve Span for
East Capitol Street

| The District Highway depart
ment today sought approval OF its
plans for the new East Capitol
street bridge across the Anacostia
River from the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
That group is required by law
to pass on the plans for the bridge
and its approaches, but it lacks
the legal authority to enforce 6
decision either for or against. The
planners last year vigorously OPP
posed the East Capitol street site
insisting that the bridge should
cross the Anacostia on line with
Massachusetts, avenue extended.
Highway Director John N
Robertson presented the bridge
plans today at the closing
session of the planning commits
sion's monthly meeting. He also
outlined a proposal for a New
York avenue bridge to overpass
the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks
A dozen or more engineers from
the j. E. Greiner Co. of Baltimore
lconsultants to the Highway De-
Ipartment, were on hand to explain
details.
Members of the planning COM
mission were most concerned over
how the proposed cloverleaf roads
would function in that area.
Traffic Under Railroad.
An underpass provided in the
iplan would carry traffic under the
Pennsylvania Railroad and Min
nesota avenue and up to the sur
face again at Burns street, on the
far eastward side. The engineers
also raised the question about the
west side connections with East
Capitol street, c street and indie
jpendence avenue.
Contentious that the approaches
to the East Capitol street bridge
would destroy Kingman LAX and
the rest of that area as a recrea-
tional ground led the planning
commission to oppose the project
| in the first place. Definite action
on the plans proposed now by the
District was expected before the
Federal group leaves in the after
noon to inspect the suggested re-
development area in the South
west section.
Another highway matter await
ing the attention of the commits
sion today was a study made by
the Public Roads Administration
of future connections between the
Baltimore Washington parkway
and a long-planned route into the
city via a low level Anacostia
bridge to divert traffic into Con-
Istitution avenue. That matter is
merely up for review.
Opposes School Sale.
At busy session yesterday, the
planning commission took these
factions:
Refused to sanction the pro-
posed sale of the Jones Elemen-
tary School at First and L streets
NV. because the school lies in
the heart of the Northwest cen
trail redevelopment area. It was
referred back to the Co. ORIGINATING
COMMITTEE for further study.
Announced that the boundaries
of the first redevelopment project
for slum clearance in the South
west section will be ready for final
action at the June session.
Directed the District Commits
sioners to supply information on
all proposed new utilities, schools,
police stations, sewers and play
grounds in the three sections of
Washington chosen for redevelop-
ment and slum clearance.
Employment Authorized.
The commission also authorized
the employment of Harland
Bartholomew & Associates of St
Louis, provided funds are made
available. to advise in connection
With the redevelopment program
in general A former member OF
the planning commission, Mr.
Bartholomew was the chief ad-
wiser on the comprehensive plan