Evening star., 1953-10-25
Pdr|eys Slated
This Week on
Route 24O Row
Talks by Planners
Also to Examine
Bridge Dispute

D'0S NISpONS
Two conferences this week,
featuring talks by disputing
highway and planning authori-
ties, are expected to clear some
of the muddied waters surround
ing Washington area bridge and
highway issues.
Most important is the National
Capital Planning Commissions
Thursday Friday session, during
which the planners will meet
with the Maryland Roads Com
mission on the U. S. Route 240
controversy. The dispute over a
new downtown Potomac River
bridge also is expected to come
up during the two-day meeting.
At another session tomorrow,
the National Capital Regional
Planning Council has invited
Maryland and Virginia highway
and congressional leaders to try
to agree on locations for bridges
at Cabin John, Md, and Jones
Point, Alexandria.
The issues all have been dis
cuSsed for months. For the most
part, discussions have been held
between staff members of road
building and planning groups.
The coming weeks conferences
are especially significant because
commission members are coming
face-to-face to try to settle their
differences.
Planners Adamant.
Maryland Roads Commissioner
Russell H. Mccain said he was
hopeful of support for construc-
tion of a southeast leg of Route
240 into Rock Greek Park at
East-West highway near the Dis
trict line.
Up to this point, at least, there
he's been no indication the Plan
ming Commission will relent in
its opposition.
The Roads Commission inten-
ton is that the southeast leg
eventually be continued through
the District part of Rock Greek
Park to the District line. A west
leg of 240-not in controversy
would extend to the Potomac
River near Cabin John. Mont
gomery and Prince Georges
Counties proposed circumferen-
tial belt route would meet the
240 west leg west of Wisconsin
avenue.
The planners have urged that
any connections between Route
240 and the belt road be made
west of Wisconsin avenue and
that no 240 leg cross Wisconsin
and head southwark. Drawings
showing this position have been
sent to the Roads Commission
in Baltimore. and staff members
of the two groups conferred
about them last week.
Starting Point for Talks.
The Roads Commission is ex-
pected to file a formal reaction
to the planners drawings with
the planning group before their
joint meeting late this week.
That, at least, will give both
groups a starting point for their
talks.
The big question to be an
sWered on the downtown bridge
issue is whether the Planning
Commission will indorse an al
ternate location to the E street
proposal favored by the District
Commissioners.
The planners so far, while op-
posing the E street plan, have
not favored any new river cross
ing that would lead directly to
downtown Washington. Staff
members of the Planning Com
mission, however, publicly have
strongly favored as an alternate
the so-called Reaches Run
bridge. 1t would leave Virginia
just downriver from the Four
teenth street railroad bridge, and
tie into the proposed Southwest
freeway in Washington.
District Highway Department
officials question practically of
the proposal on several counts.
However, District Engineer Com
missioner Louis w. PrentiSs has
declined to order an all-out
study until the Planning Com
mission takes a formal stand on
it.
Preview of Battle.
The commissions action Fri
day, officials agreed, should pro-
vide a preview of the fight to
come when the bridge battle
shifts to Capitol Hill in January
The E street plan, and other
downtown bridge proposals, will
be kept out of tomorrow'S
regional council discussion.
1t, instead, will center around
Cabin John and Jones Point,
the two river crossings which
tie into the proposed outer cir
. cumferential belt highway
around the city.
Council Chairman Robert M.
Watkins said it was MS hope
that Maryland and Virginia
highway officials could agree on
exact points at which the two
spans should hit the two States
shore lines. The reason for
seeking agreement, he said, is
so local authorities can plan to
acquire or reserve land needed
for the bridge approaches and
belt route. This is more i'm
portant in Virginia than in
Maryland, officials said. since
Maryland's road plans are
further along.
Mr.. Mccain and members Of
his Maryland road staff will at
tend the meeting, and Virginia
Highway Commissioner James
Anderson has promised to send
three officials. In addition,
Representatives Broyhill. of Vir-
inia, and Hyde and Small of
Maryland. all Republicans, will
he m hand. Mr.. BrOvhill has