Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-02
Virginia Backs
EStreet Bridge,
But Shuns Cost
Sees Need for Spon;
Objects to Paying
81 Million Shore
By George Beverage

ton that the bridge and its Viz
ginia approaches be built at
no cost to the State of Virginia. :"
District officials propose the
State pay about $2.2 million on
land and structures to connect
the bridge with existing Virginia
highways. The rest of the span S
$50 million coSt-including APP
proacheS passing over Federal
parkland on the Virginia side of
the riVer-would be paid for by
the District and Federal high
way aid.
After today's hearing, Repre-
sentative Broyhill. Republican, of
Virginia said he intended to
amend his E street bridge bill
to provide that the total $2.8
million cost of approaches over
Federal property on the Virginia
side OF the river be paid by the
Federal Government, leaving
92.2 million to be paid for by
the State.
He pointed out, however, that
the bridge would require about
four years to build, which should
give the State enough time to
produce its share.
Reluctant to Pay.
Testifying before a House Dis
trict subcommittee considering
proposed bridges at E street and
at Jones Point. Alexandria. how
ever. a State official expressed
reluctance even to pay for the
structures involving State land.
w. Frank Smith, Virginia
Highway Department urban en-
gineer, made this plain in read
ing the following statement from
Virginia Highway Chairman
James A. Anderson:
The Virginia Department of
Highways has approved the E
street bridge location with con-
nections to Arlington boulevard,
Lee highway and the Pentagon
network, This is with the under
standing that the bridge and the
Virginia approaches would be
included in the project at no
cost to the State of Virginia.
1.-THE current estimate of
urgent needs Tin the Virginia
area near Washington is $35
million. with annual construc-
ton funds of 81 million available.
Cites 'Pay-as-YOu-GO."
Under our policies Of 'pay-as-
you-go' and distribution of funds
the available revenues must be
applied toward the development
of existing routes in the Virginia
area.
with no possibility of finan-
cial participation. the Virginia
Department of Highways is re-
luctant to take an active part in
advocating the construction of
this bridge. The need, however
is evident"
Mr.. Broyhill said if Congress
approves the E street bridge.
however, Virginia would have to
provide any approaches it is re-
SponSible for. 1.-THE citizens of
Northern Virginia wouldn't hold
still for anything else." he
added.
The Virginian. author of the
E street bill, said he did not
think Virginia was Sinking any
responsibility, however, noting
that it will have to spend mil
lions Of dollars on roads leading
to Potomac bridges.
Mr.. Smith said the $35 million
in Immediate needs" generally
represents improvements pro-
posed in the area-wide plan
drawn up two years ago by the
Regional Highway Planning
Committee. But the $35 million
does not include approaches
either to the E street or Jones
Point bridges. he added.
Emphasizes Projects.
The highway official did en-
phasize. however, that the State
is now spending about 50 million
on three grade separation struc-
lures for Arlington boulevard
the man approach route to the
E street bridge. In the future,
he said. his department wants to
widen the boulevard to six lanes
and eliminate grade crossings.
This construction would cost
between SO million and SIS mil
lion as far as Seven Corners,
plus SIS million to 50 million for
a complex interchange at that
intersection. But he stressed that
such improvements can be made
only at the rate of 81 million a
year.
Meanwhile, the subcommittee
heard strong support for the E
street bridge voiced by Arlington
County leaders and several
Washington organizations.
Included were Mrs. Leone
Buchholtz, Arlington County
Board chairman; Clifford G.
Stoneburner, Arlington highway
engineer: William H. Press.
Washington Board Of Trade;
Ernest Brett, Keystone Auto
mobile Club. and John A. Re-
mon, chairman of the District
Redevelopment Land Agency.
Consider Protests.
At several points in the testi-
mony. subcommittee members
asked about protests that the
bridge would encroach on Roose-
welt Memorial Island. The bridge
would pass over the island, lying
close to the Virginia shore, and
drop f1ve piers to it.
When opposition witnesses to
the span testify next week, one
Of their major points will be
that such development is an
illegal and undesirable barrier
to the islands function as a
wilderness preserve.