Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-07
Ruling Delayed
On Exact Site
OF Route l4O

Stute Commission
And Planners Deny
Rollingwood Report
The exact route Of the pro-
posed southeast leg Of Route 240
in Montgomery County win re.
main undecided for at least so
to 90 days. the Maryland Stats
Roads Commission said last
night.
In q Joint statement the roads
commission and the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan-
ming Commission also denied re-
ports that land was being re.
served for the road south Of
East-West highway near Rock
Creek Park.
"The whole idea has been
pigeonholed." Roads Commission
Chairman Russell H. Mccain
said.
Rollingwo0d Alarmed.
Top officials Of the two bodies
met with a standing-room -only
crowd of 300 Rollingwood resi-
dents. alarmed over reports that
the highway was aimed directly
at the Rollingwood School. The
group, meeting at the Rock Greek
Shelter, received assurances from
the roads commission that the
school, located just west Of Rock
Greek Park and south Of East
West highway. was In no danger.
In the joint statement the two
bodies noted that Gov. McKeldin
had issued a directive to the
roads commission to restudy
plans. for the southeast leg. The
directive was issued in q tele-
gram made public just prior to
election day last month.
In effect. the roads commission
said at least a three-and-a-half.
week moratorium had been de-
clared on the road. The studies
have been shelved until after
January / so that commission
engineers can complete plans for
roads set for advertising in the
1854 construction program, Nor
man Pritchett. chief engineer Of
the roads commission. said. He
added the studies would take at
least so days.
Unable to Comment.
ct is obvious that until this
additional study is completed.
the State Roads Commission Is
not in q position to make any
comments or commitments with
respect to the location of u. S.
Route 24o." the joint statement
declared
Mr.. Mccain, however. made 1t
clear that the restudy does not
preclude the possibility Of the
southeast leg hitting the East
West highway in the vicinity Of
Beach drive.
The southeast leg under al.
ternate B plan was slated to
cross Wisconsin avenue in the
vicinity of Grosvenor lane, ira.
verse a section of Rock Creek
Park and then leave the park
west of Connecticut avenue. NOV
ing in a southeasterly direction
toward East-West highway and
Beach drive.
An earlier proposal called for
its remaining in the park for the
entire distance in reaching East
West highway.
Rollingwood residents became
alarmed when it was learned
that Developers Howard and Mill
ton Polinger had been told they
would have to reserve q 200
foot-wide strip along Rock Greek
Park south Of East-West high
way to get a subdivision plat
recorded for the area.
Plat Approved.
The Planning Commission.
however, on November 10, APP
proved the plat without the res.
ervation Of land.
Besides officials of the Roads
Commission. last nights meet
ing also was attended by Sidney
M. Oliver, vice chairman of the
Planning Commission: j. Bond
Smith, Planning Commission
counsel. and Harry Thompson Of
the National Parks Service.
Mr.. Thompson reiterated that
the Parks Service was unalter-
ably opposed to the use Of Rock
Greek Park for an all-purpose
highway. He added that he be-
lieved Congress would amend
Park legislation to define park
ways more rfgidly to keep the
proposed arteriai road oiit NJ
Rock Creek. -
Gerald P. Nye, former Senator.
and a leader In the Citizens Acc
ton Committee for Fair High
way Planning. threatened TO seek
congressional action to prohibit
major roads on park ,ands II op.
ponents Of the intercounty belt
highway lose their court appeal
to block the road.
Nye Assails Gingery.
Mr.. Nye urged Rollingwood
residents not to be alarmed at
the threat seen In the Polinger
case. He described 1t as another
attempt to get support for use
Of the park for the road from
residents seeking a way to pro.
tect their homes and schools.
Mr.. Nye. In a 25-minute adj
dress that preceded the Roads
Commissions presentation, lev.
eled an attack at Parks Conn
missioner Donald E. Gingery.
This thing is just as deep Ia