Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-14
Reaches Run Bridge
Bill Sought Before
Hearings Are Begun

Legislation to back the Ma
tional Capital Planning Commits
sion's proposal for a new Potomac
River bridge at Reaches Run will
be sought In Congress soon, it
was learned yesterday.
There has been no decision
on the exact form Of the bill,
or who will introduce it.
But it was learned that both
the Planning Commission and
the National Park Service are
interested in seeing such a meas
ure introduced before bridge
hearings begin March l before
House District subcommittee.
Two-Year Controversy.
The Reaches Run span-it
would cross just down river from
the existing Fourteenth street
bridges-has emerged as the
choice of the Planning Commits
sion after nearly two years Of
dispute over the proposed E street
bridge favored by District Of
flcialS.
Officials Of the subcommittee,
headed by Representative Kearns,
Republican. of Pennsylvania.
said the three days of bridge
hearings would be confined to
bills which would authorize a
bridge at E street NV. and one
at Jones Point, Alexandria.
Both bills were introduced by
Representative Broyhill, Repub-
lican. of Virginia. member of
the KearnS subcommittee.
Mr.. Broyhill said the unit had
agreed to limit testimony to
these two, and indicated he would
press the point.
III. we get into a controversy
over sites at Jones Point. E
street, Reaches Run. Nebraska
avenue and the Three Sisters Is
land we wouldn't get the approval
of any one" he said. II am OPP
posed to considering anything
except the two for which bills
are pending"
Regardless of whether a
Reaches Run bridge bills is in
troduced before the hearings,
however, the subject is sure to
be injected into testimony by
opponents of the E street pro-
posal.
Supporters Are Listed.
The E street bridge is backed
strongly by the District Com
missioners and their highway
officials. Mr.. Broyhill's bill pro-
poses that it be paid for by the
District, but Federal highway
aid funds would figure in meet
ing the cost.
Subcommittee officials said the
following groups or individuals
thus far are slated to testify
in favor of both the E street
and Jones Point Bridges:
District Commissioners, Dis
trict Highway Department, Dis
trict Traffic Department. Vir-
ginia Highway Department,
American Automobile Associa-
ton, Washington Trade Board
of Trade, Washington Building
Congress. Modjeski & Masters
consulting FIRM. Bureau of
Public Roads, National Capital
Regional Planning Council, Key
stone Automobile Club, and
John A. Remon, member of the
National Capital Planning Com
mission.
The following additional wit
nesses were listed as in favor of
the E street bridge: Arlington
County. Arlington County Plan
ming Committee, Regional High
way Planning Committee.
Additional witnesses listed as
in favor of the Jones Point bridge
included the Maryland Roads
Commission, Prince Georges
County and City of Alexandria.
Witnesses scheduled thus far
as being opposed to the E street
span include:
National Capital Planning
Commission; Roosevelt Island
Memorial Association, Office of
National Capital Parks, National
Park Service, American Society
of Planning Officials. and the
Northern Virginia Regional and
Economic Development Commits
sion.
fnwn~nnh Tnl@u1 uonn~