Evening star., 1953-06-28
Benning-keniIworh
Road Plans Fixed;
Contractor Named
By John W. Stepp

SSs" We SNSRR
District highway authorities
yesterday released plans for the
long projected traffic inter-
change at the Benning road via
duct and Kenilworth avenue NE.
At the same time, Highway Di-
rector John N. Robertson dis
closed that the low bid for con-
struction of the complicated road
and structure network came to
$671, $50. The winning contrac-
tor. j. D. Hedin Construction
Co. of 1900 Newton street NE.
was one of three bidders COM
peting. Mr.. Robertson said the
low bid was 9 per cent below Of
flee estimates.
The job, due to begin in two
or three weeks. will require about
a year to complete.
1t is another link in the chain
that will unite along the line of
KenilWorth avenue the East
Capitol Street Bridge, now un-
der construction, with the pro-
jected Baltimore = Washington
Parkway and the Annapolis
Freeway.
Access to Benning Road.
Purpose of the interchange is
not only to funnel traffic along
Kenilworth avenue, to and from
the East Capitol Street Bridge,
but to privide access to and from
Benning road on the west side
of Benning viaduct. Railroad
tracks Immediately east of Ken
ilworth avenue make eaSterly
access to the latter thoroughfare
impracticable.
The city already has purchased,
for SIS million, the right-of-
way to extend Kenilworth avenut
about 5000 feet south of Benning
viaduct to the new bridge site.
No roadway exists there now.
Approximately another 81 mil
lion is available, either through
congressional appropriation or in
Federal matching funds. to buy
needed right-of-way to widen
existing Kneilworth avenue for
the 1000 feet between Benning
viaduct and the District Line.
The interchange project itself
will extend for about 400 feet
on both sides of the viaduct.
Where the east, or northbound,
leg of Kenilworth avenue passes
under the viaduct, the grade will
be at ground level.
The west (Southbound leg of
Kenilworth, on the other hand,
will be depressed below natural
ground level so as to pass be-
meath two structures that will
feed east-bound Benning road
traffic into Kenilworth avenue,
and northbound Kenilworth ave-
nue. traffic into Benning road.
The depressing of this west
leg will necessitate strengthen
ing the piers of the Benning via
duct. Otherwise, the old via
duct itself will remain unaltered.
VIII Prevent Meat Grinder"
Mr.. Robertson acknowledged a
possibility that traffic signal
lights may be required to prevent
part of the road complex from
becoming what the profession
calls meat grinder" But he
seemed optimistic that traffic will
be. able to adjust itself without
too much trouble.
Kenilworth avenue NE. will be
developed into a Six-lane limited
access highway as a connecting
link to the new freeWays being
completed to Baltimore and An
napolis.
The full benefit of such plan,
1t is now indicated, is being
threatened by resistance to the
move to get the Capital Transit
Co. tracks off Kenilworth avenue.
These now are used to haul coal
and other supplies into the. Ben
ming plant of the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co. and into a transit
company storeyard there.
Pending on the Senate calen-
dar is a bill, approved by the
Senate District Committee. to
permit Pepco to build a bridge
over Kenilworth avenue to as
sure delivery of its coal supplies.
The Senate has passed over this
bill once because of objections
from the owner of the East
Washington Railroad which
earns a return for transferring
the coal from it's short line to
the Capital Transit Co. which
delivers it under a contract price
to the power company.