Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-01
Bridges
Continued From First Page

NSOAACAAANSA 9AOA1 = LOU = &eSsk
director. gave the subcommittee
this breakdown on the E street
bridges $32.6 million cost esti-
mate: Main bridge structure,
$11.6 million; Virginia ap-,
proaches. $40 million dncluding
1881 800 for land acquisition).
and District approaches. $50
million Including $40 for land).
Mr.. Sawyer noted that this
total cost exceeds the $24.5 mil
lion cost authorization in the E
street bill introduced by Rep
resentative Broyhill.
After today's hearing, Mr..
Broyhill said he would amend
the bill to include all of the cost
except that which Virginia might
be willing to pay for approaches
on its side of the river. He said
he would decide on the amend
ment figure after hearing Vir-
ginia highway officials testify
tomorrow.
Strong opposition is expected
from two fronts. One will center
around protests of the bridge
crossing Roosevelt Memorial
Island on its way to the Virginia
shore. The other will be spear
headed by the National Capital
Planning Commission. contend
ing that bridge needs could be
met better by span from
Reaches Run, just down the
river from the Fourteenth street
bridges.
Roosevelt Island.
The question of Roosevelt Is
land, which was decided to the
United States by the Roosevelt
Memorial Association in 1882 as
a wilderness preserve, came in for
only brief comment today.
At one point. Mr.. Auchincloss
asked whether any consideration
had been given to suSpending the
E street bridge over the island
and not running piers to it..
! Mr.. Robertson said that had
been studied. but was discarded
because the bridge cost would be
/ increased to $50 million. Gen.
PrentisS noted that, as the bridge
) is planned. it would pass 40 feet
over the island with three piers
resting on it.
MY experience, Mr.. Auchin-
Gloss said. lis that costs usually
come to about one-third or one
half of engineers estimates.
Cost estimates don't mean much
! to me-
Gen. Prentiss noted that the
E street bridge is vital part of
the area wide highway improve
ment program mapped jointly
by highway experts from the
District. Maryland. Virginia and
the Federal Bureau of Public.
Roads.
Different Functions.
He stressed, however, that it
should not be considered as in
competition with the Jones Point
bridge in any way. Each is
worthwhile and would serve a
different function.
The Commissioner emphasized
also that the controversial E
street span was selected as the
sound solution" only after ex-
tensive studies of other locations.
He said the alternate sites in
cluded tie-ins with Arizona ave-
nue., the K street freeway, H and
/ streets NV, Reaches Run and
prolongations of Constitution
and New Hampshire avenues.
Some of these sites would miss
the controversial Roosevelt
Island.
But I have satisfied myself
/ SAARV 4AOAAC WOu1u 0Cl VIC Vic
pose so we'll as E street." he de-
clared.
Gen. Prentiss said the E street
bridge would be used largely
by commuter traffic and mo-
florists destined for the central
downtown area, and noted that
traffic counts show that nearly
all of river crossings during peak
hours involve trips starting or
ending within the city.
In answer to questions, he
said he would not expect any
through-city traffic to use the
E street bridge. Traffic head
ing westward would use Key
Bridge and that heading north
and east Of Washington would
use the Fourteenth street span.
His testimony also empha-
sized convictions that improve
ments on both the District, and