Evening star., 1954-03-16
Belt Highway
Vital, DC. and
z States Agree
Cooperation Toward
Around-Woshineton
Route Expressed

District, Maryland and Vir.
ginia highway and planning ON.
cials found themselves in un-
usual agreement on one area
wide road project-the belt
highway around Washington.
More than SO officials met yes
terday in the Hotel Statler to dis.
cuss the need for the belt high
way. They adjourned hours
later. with all agreeing that the
highway is vital.
One question remained <un-
solved: How Virginia will finance
its section Of the highway.
The projected belt highway
will swing around Washington.
crossing the Potomac River at
Jones Point and in the vicinity
Of Cabin John. Md. The Jones
Point crossing location was
agreed upon by all present. Al
though the Cabin John location
is not definite, no difficulty was
seen in reaching agreement later
on a site.
Maryland Ready.
Russell H. Mccain, chairman
of the Maryland State Roads
Commission, explained Maryland
is ready to start construction Of
its part Of the belt highway. It
runs about 80 miles and will cost
about $35 million.
Burton Marye. assistant chief
engineer Of the Virginia State
Highway Department, was able to
say only that he agreed it is q
good idea but that financing Is
a problem to be settled later.
Mr.. Marye. however, did re-
veal the most positive Virginia
commitment on the highway and
related bridge problem to date.
He said the Virginia State
Highway Department wants to
cooperate in the problem and
agrees the belt highway is neces-
sary. He said he is in accord
with the Jones Point location
for a new Potomac River cross
ing and will cooperate in PIN
pointing the location of a bridge
at Cabin John.
Can Protect Approaches.
Working with Alexandria, we
can protect, by acquisition If
necessary. the approaches to the
Jones Point bridge from the
bridge to Route l." he declared.
Although the position of Vir-
ginia officials has been inter.
pretated as supporting the ap-
proach project. this was even
more positive assurance the State
would take part in the financing
Of the approaches to a Jones
Point bridge. Virginia says it
is forbidden by law to share
building costs Of the bridge it
self.
Mr.. Marye said Federal aid to
highway funds could be used for
the approaches. if Alexandria
wanted to use them for this prof.
ect. He said there is about
100000 available and that, at
the rate of 100000 a year, there
will be enough in four years to
acquire land and build the
approach from the bridge to
Route !.
Could Ask State.
Half of the funds would come
from the Federal Government
under the aid-to-roads program,
Is per cent from Alexandria,
and Is per cent from the State.
Mr.. Marye said that if Alexandria
wants to spend its share Of the
Federal aid funds in this way,
all they had to do was ask the
State and it would 60 along.
c. c. Robinson. director Of the
Northern Virginia Regional Plan
ming and Economic Development
Commission, said the Virginia
Highway Department will send
a survey party to Fairfax County
the end of March to pin-point
the route of the belt highway.
This would mean determining
the location of a Cabin John
bridge across the Potomac River
also.
Mr.. Marye said Virginia's big
problem was in obtaining the
right of way for the project. He
pointed out that in Virginia, the
highway department could only
protect the right of way by buy
ing the land and funds were
lacking.
In Maryland land designated
for highway purposes may be put
in reserve for a time, with the
owner paying no tax. This gives
the State time to get money to
buy for road purposes property
threatened by development.
The meeting was called by the
National Capital Regional Plan
ming Council, headed by Robert
M. Watkins. Donald E. Gingery
of the council acted as chairman
Of the meeting.
Others Attending.
Others attending included:
Norman Pritchett, chief engi-
neer Of the Maryland State Roads
Commission; H. j. Spelman, dis
trict engineer of the Bureau Of
Public Roads; Garland E. MARBLE,
technical director of the Region
al Highway Planning Committee:
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss,
District Engineer Commissioner.
Also j. N. Robertson, District
highway director; s. r. Harrison.
deputy District highway director
and chairman of the Regional
Planning Committee;
c. Luckett Watkins, Alexandria
public works director: Philip B.