Evening star., 1951-09-13
P|annerstoVieW
Peak Traffic 10
Anacostia Spans
Formal Approval of
New East Capitol
Bridge Moy Follow
By Nelson N. Shepord

BY Nelson N. Shepord
Before rendering what might be
their formal approval of the East
Capitol street bridge plans to-
morrow, Federal planners intended
personal inspection
today of peak-hour traffic condi-
tions on approaches to various
bridges over the Anacostia River.
Plans for the new bridge, as
revised by j. E. Greiner Co., Bal
timore, consultants, will be pre-
Sented to the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
by Highway Director John N.
Robertson at tomorrow's session.
OF special interest to the Federal
group is the traffic along Kenil-
worth avenue, one of the main
approaches to the East Capitol
street bridge.
Tomorrow's anticipated action
may be the final time the bridge
plans are to be brought before
NCPPC. If the plans are approved
by that group and by the District
Commissioners, as required by
law, it is presumed the District
ca ngo ahead on a contractural
basis.
During an automobile trip in
the area, the planners will travel
across the SouSa, Anacostia and
South Capitol street bridges. They
hope to form some conclusion as
to the traffic load the new East
Capitol street span may lift from
these three.
Increase in Traffic.
Including the Benning road
bridge. which will be omitted from
today's study. comparative figures
for July, 1851 and July, 1850 show
an increase of IA per cent in the
number of vehicles using the four
bridges.
The South Capitol bridge, serv-
ing Washington's fastest growing
section, was used by 43,461
vehicles during a 24-hour count,
or 23.4 per cent more than the
equivalent day year ago. The
Anacostia bridge experienced a 40
per cent increase, 30,144 vehicles
it compared with 28,747
a year ago. Only the Sousa bridge
showed a decline. The 1886
that crossed it on a given
day last July were IL per cent
fewer in number than the 53,3l6
vehicles that used it on an equiva-
lent day in July a year ago.
The Benning road bridge ex-
perienced an increase of 13 per
cent in traffic over the 1850 count.
On a given day last July, 57,9O5
vehicles crossed the bridge, COM
pared with 51,252 on the earlier
count.
Concerned With Approaches.
The planning commission at
this stage is far more concerned
with the approaches to the East
Capitol street bridge than with
the plans for the structure itself.
The decreased traffic over the
Sousa bridge no doubt reflected
the more convenient route supplied
by the South Capitol street span.
The inspection of approaches
to the newly authorized bridge, in
accordance with revised plans,
will give an idea of how these
approaches will affect the pro-
posed sports area at the end Of
East Capitol street and in King
man Lake. These approaches may
be given continued study even
after the bridge plan is approved.
In the first planning session
since July, NSPPC will review
pending bills for the proposed
Alexandria bridge across the Po-
tomac and the controversial
Nevius tract in Arlington County.
Also coming before the group is
the bill providing for embellish-
ment of the entrance to George
town involving an exchange of
lands between the American Oil
Co. and the Interior Department.
Playground Unsolved.
Disappointment awaits the citi-
zen groups urging the creation of
an adequate playground in the
rapidly expanding Michigan Park
area. The NCPP staff will report
early today that it has no solu-
ton for the project, requested by
the District Recreation Board.
There is no vacant land available
except that owned by private in
Stitutions; in the new area north
OF Michigan avenue as far as GAL
latin street, it was reported. From
the NCPPC viewpoint. there can
be no playground in the area un-
less some of the private ground is
released and funds are forth
coming from Congress.
The planning commission is ex-
pected to support it's previous po-
sition with respect to the Nevius
tract. That was a recommends
ton that the land be retained in
public ownership as the site for
some future national monument.
instead of being sold as proposed.
Redevelopment plans will be
considered at the session as well
as the proposed approaches to
The Burke (Va) airport site. which
The Commission approved last
month, The National CAPITAL
Housing Authority will present
plans for the first redevelopment
unit in Southwest Washington
All four proposed sites have been
given formal approval.
While the Commerce Denart.
ment is expected to go ahead with
It's plans for the alternate airport
n nearby Virginia, there is con-
siderable planning required with
respect to the approaches from
highway. These will re.
1uire continued study with Vir.
yinia officials, it was said.