Evening star., 1953-09-25
2-Bridge Plan
Called Cheaper
By NCPC Aides
Proposal Is Better
Than E Street Spon,
Virginia Boord Told
BY George Beveridee

BY George Beveridee
National Capital Planning
Commission officials contended
last night that two new Potomac
River bridges could be built
Jointly at less cost, and perform
a better service, than the single
E street bridge proposed by Dis
trict officials.
The two-bridge package pro-
poSal was made by Charles Con-
rad, staff planner. and Blair Lee
III. executive secretary of the
Planning Commission before a
meeting Of the Northern Virginia
Regional Planning Commission.
Proposal Outlined.
The two bridges they said
could be built cheaper than the
E street span were:
/. A six-lane Southwest Bridge.
leaving Virginia just down river
from the Fourteenth street rail-
road bridge, and crossing the
Potomac and Washington Chan
mel on a line with Tenth street
S.W. to tie in with the proposed
Southwest IF street) Freeway.
2. A 4-lane bridge that would
lead from the Districts Arizona
avenue to connect with Virginia
roads near Spout Run-up river
from Key Bridge.
However, District Engineer
Commissioner Louis w. PrentisS
said his estimates put cost of the
two-bridge plan about 81 mil
lion above cost of the E street
project.
These two bridges, proposed
Jointly, have been discussed pre-
viously by the Planning Com
mission as possible substitutes
for the E street span. Their dis
cussion before the Virginia plan
ners. however. indicated that
the Planning Commission might
push them more actively in op-
posing the E street bridge.
Mr.. Conrad stressed that the
proposal is still in a study stage
between the Planning Commits
sion and District highway engi-
neerS.
Explains Low Cost.
He said the 6-lane span he
proposed at Fourteenth street
might make unnecessary District
plans to rebuild the existing
Fourteenth street treStle bridge,
now used to carry three lanes of
one-way Virginia. bound traffic.
The span could be built at
relatively low cost, he argued,
because: Cd 1t would be built on
Federally-owned land in Vir-
ginia; and (2) it would tie in
with street plans already de-
veloped for Southwest Washing
ton.
Mr.. Conrad said the bridge,
trying in with the Shirley high
way, Route / and Arlington
boulevard, would permit Wash
ington-bound motorists to select
the bridge they want to use in
Virginia. instead of shifting
from street to street on the
crowded Washington side.
Mr.. Lee said the new proposal
deserved serious consideration"
also because of objections to the
E street proposal. Among those
he cited were: Cd Strong opposi-
tion to a crossing of Theodore
Roosevelt Island; (2) an adverse
effect on big apartment projects
planned on both sides of the
river: CD its high cost; and a.
inability of streets on the Dis
trict side of the river to handle
the heavy bridge traffic.
Objections Are Noted.
S. R. Harrison, District high
way engineer, said the planners
proposal was still under study,
but noted some objections to it.
One, he said, was that not enough
bridge lanes would be provided
if the six-lane Southwest span
were merely substituted for the
existing three-lane trestle bridge.
He said that if the treStle bridge
were rebuilt in addition to the
new Fourteenth street span it
was doubtful District streets
could handle the heavy traffic
pouring into concentrated
area.
District officials contend the E
street bridge is needed to serve
the area west of Fourteenth
street. and have asked Congress
to approve it.
On another matter last night,
meanwhile, the Virginia plan
ming group elected a Nominating
Committee to propose a slate of
new officers at an October meet
ing. Committee members elected
were Mrs. Kathryn Stone of Ar
hngton, John Graham, jr., Falls
Church, and j. E. Kirkpatrick,
Loudoun County.