Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-25
Senator'S Seek
Action on 7
Potomac Spans
Cases Committee
Will Act Thursday
On Two-Bridge Bill
BY George Beverage

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last-ditch effort before Congress
adjourns to get approval Of two
new Potomac River bridges In
the Washington area.
In a move spearheaded by
Senator Case, Republican, Of
South Dakota. the subcommittee
amended a House-approved bill
authorizing a bridge at Jones
Point, Alexandria, to call for:
/. A $24.5 million six-lane
downtown bridge extending from
New Hampshire avenue NV. and
crossing South Island on its way
to the Virginia shore.
This bridge would be built with
District money by the city high
way department and tie into
e Arlington boulevard, Jefferson
Davis highway and the George
Washington Memorial parkway
on the Virginia side. It has the
backing Of District and Virginia
highway officials.
2. The six-lane Jones Point by
pass bridge, with minor revisions
in the form which the bill passed
the House.
Committee Acts Thursday.
Senator Case, who heads both
the subcommittee and the full
Senate District Committee. will
put the two-bridge bill before
the full committee at an HAS
am. meeting Thursday.
If it is Endorsed. he said he
will move Immediately to get the
measure placed on Senate Ma
jority Leader Knowland's list Of
priority legislation.
The subcommittee vote was
taken by a poll of it's three men,
bers-Senators Case, Beall, Re-
publican. Of Maryland, and Gore,
Democrat, of Tennessee.
Some officials, particularly
those strongly backing the Jones
Point span and cool to the down.
town proposal. have been fearful
that an effort to get both bridges
so late in the session would en-
danger the Alexandria bridge.
Senator Case made it clear he
supports the Jones Point bill.
But his thinking Is that an even
more urgent need exists for a
new bridge to ease central area
congestion-enough of a need to
Justify the about effort.
Even though the two bridges
are Jumped together, Senate
aides pointed out, the failure Of
one need not necessarily kill the
other. II the downtown bridge
should run into decisive oppose
ton on the Senate floor. for
example, it could be eliminated
from the bill. By the same token,
II the two-bridge bill passes
the Senate and meets fiat
House rejection, 1t could be
modified in conference.
Waging Virtual One-Man Drive.
Senator Case has waged vir-
tually a one-man campaign for
the downtown span, proposing 1t
as q compromise substitute for
an q sfreaf hf.idoo
The e street bridge, backed
by city highway officials, was
doomed in the House by blasts
from two sources. National Cap
ital Planning Commission criti-
cized it as solution to traffic
problems. The Roosevelt Me-
mortal Association commended its
crossing of Roosevelt Memorial
Island was an illegal encroach-
ment on the islands dedication
as q Federal wilderness preserve
The planners. in hearings IL
days ago, did not fatty oppose
the new case bridge. but urged
action be postponed pending
more study of bridge sites
The Roosevelt group. however
contended South Island-a small
promontory just downriver from
Roosevelt Islands an integral
part Of the island proper. and
objected strongly to its crossing
The Case subcommittee in its
report, argued that its bridge
will not affect development on
the island proper. and, in fact
opens the island to wider use. It
requires, specifically, pedestrian
access to South Island from the
bridge, and q separate foot
bridge between South Island and
Roosevelt Island proper.
Argue Over Potomac Islands.
The. subcommittee noted that
the 1882 act transferring the is
land to the Federal Govern
ment states no development OF
the island inconsistent with the
Roosevelt Associations develop
ment plans can be executed
without the associations con-
sent.
The group argued that the
proposed bridge sis not incon-
sistent" with Roosevelt Island
plans, contending the only de-
velopment planned for South
Island is a short footpath.
Even if the bridge were held
to be inconsistent, however, the
Senate unit said, there is "ne
legal bar to the construction Of
the bridge, If authorized by Con.
gress." Its report said the Gov.
eminent accepted a deed in fet
simple to Roosevelt Island, ant
contended the deed recognizes
South Island as separate from
Roosevelt Island proper.
The bill gives the Planning
Commission and the Fine Art
Commission the right to review
all District plans for the bridge
Stressing the need for TIL
downtown span, the subcommit
tee said traffic will increase Il
the point that by 1875 existinl
Potomac bridges would have ,
deficiency in capacity amounting
to $500 cars during the morning
IL .