Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-11
Bridges
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Bridges
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rounding Lincoln Memorial and
park area.
Harry T. Thompson. associate
director of National Capital
Parks. said he wanted to study
the plan before making a de-
cision on it but that "offhand 1t
does not strike me as being too
good"
The new design variation dis
closed by Gen. Prentiss is an OBJ
vious bid for possible association
support.
Instead of having a continuous
high-leyel span from the Dis
trict to Virginia shores tpaSsing
en- route over Roosevelt Island
and dropping three piers to it,.
low-level bridge sections about
the height of Arlington Memorial
Bridge-would be built above the
river from each shore toward the
island.
Instead of passing over it. each
bridge span would drop into
tubes placed Just below the sur
face Of the island. The tubes
would be placed in "open-cut
construction" just below the
normal island grade. They then
would be covered with soil and
Handicapped so that the island
surface would appear unchanged.
Highway officials who took the
plan to the Capitol told reporters
the revision might cost about So
million more than the original
plan. One reason is that the
low-level plan would require an
expensive draw span. The orig
inal cost estimate was $32 mil
lion, more than half of which
would be consumed in expensive
improvements to District streets
and bridge approaches.
Meanwhile, Chairman Kearns
said he wants the subcommittee
to visit Roosevelt Island for a
frSt-hand look at the contro-
versial wilderness tract. =
The Pennsylvania Republican
said he is definitely undecided"
in his own mind about both the
E street and Jones Point prof.
ects. and did not expect hasty
subcommittee decision on either.
BrOyhill Hopeful.
Before the new plan was sub
mitted today, Mr.. Broyhill, au-
thor Of both bridge bills, said he
thinks "the chances at this point
are excellent for getting a Jones
Point bridge and less than $3.50
on E street"
The hearings brought no OPP
position at all to, the Jones Point
project. But that proposal hit a
definite snag last week when the
Virginia Highway Department
told the subcommittee it could
not afford to pay for approaches
to either of the spans.
Mr.. Broyhill's original bill
proposed that the Federal Gov
eminent pay for the bridge
including Virginia approach
routes through Alexandria to
connect with Shirley highway
at a cost Of $40 million.
The Virginia legislator said to-
day he has decided to amend
the bill to cut about Sc million
from the cost and have the
Virginia approach routes extend
through Alexandria only as far
as Route /. He said this would
open the way for firm undef-
standing that the connection
from there to Shirley highway
would be a clear-cut RESPONSE
bility of the Virginia Highway
Department.
Extension Later.
The highway department, in
a follow-up letter. has taken the
position that the bridge APP
proaches need go only as far as
Route / Immediately. and added:
"As traffic develops over the
years and as additional funds
become available, the southern
approach could be, and I'M
doubtedly would be. extended
from Route to the Shirley
highway"
Representative Smith, mean
while, also defended the past his
tory of Virginia in meeting its
highway responsibilities. He said
the State should not pay for ac-
tual bridge construction, since
the Potomac River is not within
State boundaries.
But he argued that Virginia
has done its share in building
approach roads and predicted
confidently that. when the chips
are down." the State will do it
again.
While he did not mention the
Jones Point proposal by name
Mr.. Smith testified that he long
has favored an Alexandria cross
ing, which becomes more essen