Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-13
:Restudy Sought
Elevated Road
Nye Leads Attack
On New Relocation
Of Route 240
BY Gene Goodwin
Ssor Ssoff Correspondent

~'Ss S'eH SOHUsPoVooUU
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 13.-Mont.
gomery County legislators today
were trying to- arrange q confer.
ence with Gov. McKeldin and
State roads officials to restudy
plans for what would amount to
an elevated highway through
Chevy Chase. Md.
That action was promised yes
terday. after 81 residents of the
rich suburb, led by former
United States Senator Gerald p.
Nye. protested the proposed road
and demanded an investigation.
The road in dispute would be
part of the new relocation Of
Route 240 between Washington
and Frederick. It would cut
across Chevy Chase. linking the
intersection of Wisconsin avenue
and GroSvenor's lane-where 240
would come into the District
and the East-West highway at
Beach drive,
Master Plan Different.
Until a few weeks ago, Mr..
Nye said. it was believed the
State would run the link on q
route from Wisconsin avenue,
southwark of the Bethesda Naval
Hospital. following Rock Creek
and Beach drive to the East
West highway. That was the
route mapped out in the 12-year
master road plan. released re-
Gently by the State Roads Com
mission.
An official Of the commission,
who was present when the 81
Chevy Chase residents put their
protests before the Montgomery
County delegation to the Gen.
eral Assembly. said the agency
decided on a new route at q
meeting on November Z. which
was too late to be included in
the master plan publication.
The new route would slice
south of the original course for
a one-mile stretch in Chevy
Chase.
Norman Pritchard, locations
engineer for the Roads Commits
sion. said the switch was made
because it was determined the
new route would be six-tenths of
a mile shorter.
& Sees Planners Hand.
But Mr.. NyeyWho was Senator
from North Dakota and now
lives at 6 Bennington drive,
charged the new route was pro.
NOTED by an official of the Mary
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. whose
home would have been In tho
path of the route first agreed
upon. He would not identify
Che official.
Mr.. Pltchard denied that q
planning official had influenced
the commission to change its
mind. He pointed out that only
preliminary surveys are UNDER
way now and it would be years
before the road is built.
Mr.. Nye also charged that the
Roads Commission had joined
District officials in a plot to force
the opening of Rock Creek Park
within the District as a super
highway. He said a resolution
will be introduced in Congress
soon reaff1rming the Federal ban
on the use of parks for highways.
Hyde Protests.
In that connection. Delegate
j. Douglas Bradshaw. chairman
Of the All-Republican Montgom-
cry delegation here, read a let
ter from Representative Hyde.
Republican. of Maryland, ex-
pressing disfavor with the new
route proposed by the commits
sion.
Mr.. Nye said the proposed new
route plan calls for a super.
highway with overpasses at
Jones Bridge road. Connecticut
avenue, the Baltimore g. Ohio
Railroad tracks and Jones Mill
road.
This would amount to an ele-
waited highway alongside of and
above the roof level Of scores Of
new homes in the communities
known as Rock Greek Knobs.
Coquelin Terrace. North Chevy
Chase and Others" he said.
Big Investment Cited.
Senators Humphrey, Demo.
crat. of Minnesota, and Long,
Democrat, of Louisiana. as well
as a number of Representatives
live in the area of the projected
superhighway. Mr.. Nye said.
Another spokesman for those
protesting-Frederic Stohman,
attorney for the Chevy Chase
Land Co.-said the new route
would affect SO or more homes
built in the last six years at q
cost Of at least $4,000 apiece.
The land through which the
proposed link would cut is worth
$4,000 to $4,000 an acre. he
added.