Evening star., 1953-01-31
Planners Await
More Facts for
Bridge Decision
Commission Hears
Run Down on
Five Possibilities
By George Beveridqe

a few more facts before trying
to decide the location of another
bridge across the Potomac.
Members made this clear yes
terday. during lengthy discus
sion Of the bridge controversy
at its regular monthly meeting.
In December the planners
called for two new Potomac
spans at Jones Point in Alexan-
dria and at Nebraska avenue
NV. They also said another,
not pin-pofnted as to location,
is needed to serve the central
part Of the city.
AS a result Of that action the
commission yesterday heard a
rundown on five possibilities
four Of them not made public
before. The four, however,
merely were staff studies of pos
sibilities, and were recommend
ed neither to nor by the COM
mission.
Questions Raised.
Throughout the discussion,
however. members indicated
they wanted to know more about
such questions as these: How
would such a bridge fit in with
other parts of the highway pro-
gram? Would streets be able to
absorb another bridges traffic?
What effect would demolition of
temporary Federal buildings
have on the need for a bridge?
Is the need reflected by one or
two hours of peak traffic alone?
The group directed its staff
to draw up a statement review
ing recent data obtained as to
river crossings. as well as to sew
eral other highway and transit
matters.
In other actions, it:
l. Approved plans for a new
Potomac River dam, pumping
station and tunnel at Little
Falls, as new source Of water
for the city. The facility will
more than quadruple the Dale
carlia Reservoirs present raw
water supply. which runs in con-
duitS from Great Falls.
Highway Plan Approved.
2. Indorsed-with one dele
ton - the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
MISSIONS master highway plan.
The deleted project, which had
been opposed by the NCPC, was
a link through the Rock Greek
Valley from the District line to
an Eastern leg of the National
pike.
3. Decided to make further
studies of future highway needs
involving a permanent site for
the Lily Ponds Dwellings pro-
posed by the National Capital
Housing Authority.
4. Authorized it's Executive
Committee to decide what to do
about taking steps toward a
study of mass transportation
problems. The group has ap-
proved a proposal that such a
study be made by a presidential
appointed commission.
Meanwhile, the staff studies of
possible new bridge locations in
cluded a crossing from E street |
NV, extending over part of the
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
Island. The E street proposal
focal point of the controversy
is strongly backed by the District
Highway Department.
LOhman UncOmmitted.
Last year, the NCPC approved
a consultant's report which OPP
posed the E street span. DR.. Jo-
seph D. Lohman, now NCPC
chairman, however. said he was
not on record either for or
against it.
The E street staff study visu-
allied grade separations at Vir-
gina avenue and Twenty-third |
street. New Hampshire and Vir-
gina avenues. and Twenty-sixth
and Virginia avenue, as traffic |
dispersed in three directions. It |
also showed possible tunnels un-
der the Lincoln Memorial Plaza
to link Ohio avenue and the
Rock Greek and Potomac Park
way-and under the south end
of the White House grounds.
The other four possibilities for
study showed:
/. A plan from the east side
of the Rosslyn plaza, crossing
north of Theodore Roosevelt
Memorial Island to connect with
the Whitehurst Freeway at the
foot Of Wisconsin avenue. Diff
ferent road levels were depicted
at the Whitehurst link.
At Constitution Avenue.
2. A crossing from the foot of
Constitution avenue, parallel
TO the Memorial Bridge, hitting
the north end of Coulmhja Is
land on the Virginia side. From
there. the bridge would lead to
the George Washington Me-
mortal parkway and Arlington
boulevard. On the District side,
Constitution avenue grade sep
arationS were depicted at
Twenty-third street and at the
Rock Creek and Potomac park
way.
3. A span from H and I
streets, which would be con-
verted to one-way use, to Ross
lyn, crossing the north end of
the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
Island.
4. A span just south of the
Fourteenth street railroad bridge.
1t would lead from Tenth street
S.W. and the Southwest Express
way across Washington Channel
and East Potomac Park to the
Virginia side near Reaches Run,
a bird sanctuary. From there, it
would tie in with Route / and