Evening star., 1954-08-13
Senate Action
Paves Way for
Central Bridge
Authorization for
Compromise Site
Goes to House
Rv Don e Wnrran
By, Don S. Warren

By, Don S. Worren
The Senate has paved the way
for a final solution of the issues
over the location of a central
area bridge over the Potomac by
giving its unanimous approval
to the recently announced COM
promise plan.
This would authorize $24.5
million central area span, as well
as q $14.9 million crossing to
Jones Point in the Alexandria
area as a bypass Of Capital traf-
fic.
Senate action was recorded
last night in a resumption of a
call of its big consent calendar.
The bill was passed without any
contest and with only a few
words of explanation because
word of the compromise program
had been revealed in advance.
House officials are said to be
sympathetic. Action there, how
ever, will be delayed until some
time next week, since the House
is in recess until Monday. Some
key District Committee officials
are said to be ready to agree
to the Senate amendments to
authorize a central area span.
Requires Prompt Action.
With Congress now approach
ing its closing days, however, it
was pointed out prompt action
will be required on the House
side.
The tWo-bridge bill passed by
the Senate waS made possible by
a recent general agreement
reached by city planners. the
National Park Service and Dis
trict officials. Chairman Case
of the Senate District Commit
tee had a hand in this, with
determined inSistence that some
compromise could and should be
reached.
Even if the authorization bill
becomes law, actual appropria-
tions will be needed. Sponsors,
however. regarded the money as
something to worry about later.
The ultimate total cost could be
around $40 million.
The bill would authorize a
bridge over the Potomac between
Jones Point, Alexandria, and a
point in Maryland just below the
District boundary. This would
bypass Washington traffic con-
gestion. The District would pay
the cost of necessary approaches.
Other Site Unspecified.
The Senate added provisions
for central area span, to be
located upstream of the Arling-
ton Memorial Bridge. without
exactly specifying the location.
However, this was based on the
recent compromise to link it
with Twenty-fourth street NV.
as the western leg of the So
called "inner belt" highway sys-
tenn to free downtown WASH
ington Of its traffic clog.
This added bridge program
now goes back to the House for
approval.
When the House first acted,
authorizing only the Jones Point
bypass span, Federal and city
officials still were battling over
q downtown span on the line of
E street NV. or a compromise"
for one on the line Of New Hamp-
shire avenue. Both of those were
discarded because the bridges
would have crossed or come too
close to Theodore Roosevelt Me
mortal Island or the little spot
in the Potomac. Immediately
downstream, called Small or
South Island, also considered
within the memorial association
area. IT.
South Of South Island.
But there came a day when
spokesnen for the National Cap
ital Planning Commission. the
National Park Service and the
District government reached an
understanding. This was for q.
bridge to be built somewhat
south of South Island and north
of Lincoln Memorial, it's major
District connection to be with
Twenty-fourth street.
That understanding motivated
the Senate's action. Senator
Case last night voiced apprecia-
ton for the willingness of all
affected officials to work out q
compromise program.