Evening star., 1953-05-26
.Mcke|dinA Asked
To Block Work
On Pike Route
Warned of Loss of
Chevy Chase Votes
IF He OKs Plans
By Gene Goodwin
Stor Stoff Corrasnondenf

McKeldin today was faced with
a plea to block construction of
a controversial road through
Chevy Chase. Md. or take the
consequences at the polls.
It would be bad politics to
extend the Washington National
pike through Montgomery Coun-
ty sections Of Rock Creek Park
and parts of Chevy Chase, Md,
Montgomery political leaders
told him yesterday.
State Roads Commission ofi-
cials insisted, on the other hand,
that the proposed extention is
logical. economical and neces-
sary to handle the heavy flow Of
traffic to the District when the
new pike (relocated Route 240)
is completed.
The Governor is going to have
to decide soon. The extension,
known as the southeast leg of
Route 240, is in the first four
year section of the State Roads
Commissions 12-year program
and surveys already are UNDER
way.
Estimates Vote Loss.
George E. Warner of Bethesda,
member of the Republican State
Central Committee of Mont
gomery County. told the Repub-
llcan Governor that If the south
east leg is built, the party would
lose 1000 to 5000 votes in Chevy
Chase.
Mr.. Warner and other politi-
cal leaders Joined former United
States Senator Gerald P. Nye in
pleading with Gov. McKeldin to
stop the proposed extension for
his own political good.
Mr.. Nye, who once was Re-
publican Senator from North Da-
kota, lives at 6 Pennington drive
in the Chevy Chase section,
through which the southeast leg
would pass. He organized oppo-
sition to the proposed road.
He bases his opposition chiefly
on the fact that the southeast leg
would open up Rock Creek for
an expressway into downtown
Washington.
State roads officials admitted
yesterday it is their hope the
southeast leg eventually will be
extended into the District through
tsthe park.
Planned That Way.
"That's the way we had it
planned" said Norman M.
Pritchard, locations engineer for
the commission. District high
way authorities seemed very op-
timistic about using Rock Greek
Park for that purpose"
The disputed leg would extend
from relocated Route 240 near
Wisconsin avenue and Grosvenor
lane, through sections of Rock
Creek Park in Montgomery and
some of Chevy Chase to East
West highway at Beach drive.
Mr.. Nye. with the backing of
the politicians, said the southeast
leg project is unnecessary be-
cause traffic from Route 24O
could be channeled into the Dis
trict over the proposed inter-
county belt freeway, which will
connect with existing roads into
the Capital.
The State roads representa-
tives firmly insisted such a plan
would destroy the purpose of the
freeway and would not solve the
traffic problem in the area.
Park Damage Discounted.
"If the road is extended to the
District through Rock Creek
Park" said Wilson T. Ballard,
engineering consultant to the
commission, "it would be along
the west edge. It won't destroy
the park; it won't do it any great
damage"
Mr.. Nye disagreed. He said
the National Capital Planning
Commission has not consented to
any future use of the park In the
District for an arterial highway.
He read a letter from the Ma
tional Park Service, saying that
agency is "alert to the threat
posed by the southeast leg" and
"will vigorously oppose use of
the Rock Greek Valley for any
arterial highway.