Evening star., 1955-06-18
DC. Engineers
Rush Plans for
Bridge
Seek Feasible Way
To Fix New Route
For Proposed Spon
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE

Mississippi has given the DlStrlcl
until Wednesday to come up with
a report on possibilities of "an
all-around agreement" among
the myriad of agencies involved
in the bridge squabble.
The only possibility appears to
be the northern crossing OF
Roosevelt Island, indorsed con-
ditionally by the Theodore
Roosevelt Association as a SUBJ
stitute for the Constitution ave-
nue. span Congress already has
authorized.
Broyhill Urges Funds
Representative Broyhill, Re.
publican, of Virginia. meanwhile
urged Senator Stennis' Appro.
priations subcommittee to ap.
prove a SIS million item in the
District budget request for ar
immediate construction start or
the authorized bridge.
Mr.. Broyhill, in a letter to the
Senator, said the span has beer
"beclouded and delayed" by "the
fiddle-faddle .. between various
official agencies and at least one
unofficial organization"
The Virginian said these
groups only could be brought
into agreement by "a divine
power" and urged that Congress
stick to our guns" in insisting
that the authorized bridge be
built.
District officials-privately, al
least--have strong reservations
themselves about whether the
proposed northern bridge will be
feasible agreeable, serve traffic
adequately and not cost toe
much. But they appear deter
mined to give the alternative
suggestion every benefit of the
doubt.
Specific Proposals Due
The highway engineers speci.
f1c proposals for the bridge cross.
ing the upper part of the islane
will be handed to the Commits.
sioners Monday morning.
Senator Stennis agreed yes
terday to hold UP a budget de.
cision until Wednesday, after
requests for a delay by the Com
missioners and Federal Budget
Director Rowland Hughes.
Senator Stennis said that b,
Wednesday the Commissioners
are to report on two things:
The possibilities of "an all.
around agreement" by all the
agencies involved.
A fairly detailed report on the
feasibility of the new location
from the standpoint of engineer
ing and of service to the public
as well as the cost thereof"
District officials refused tc
comment until Monday on what
specific plans they are drawing
up.
Route Most Likely
The most likely, however, will
be a sweeping-curve route that
would head north from about E
street NV. to the up-river part
of Roosevelt Island, cross the
island roughly parallel to its
northern shoreline, then dip
sharply southwark to join with
Arlington boulevard near Fort
Myer drive.
This route would pass through
a heavily developed section of
industrial property in Virginia,
north of the new Arlington Tow
ers Apartments.
At the Washington end, the
highway engineers also may
show connections north of E
street-possibly at H and I. 1t
is understood, however, that they
consider a main approach near
e street would serve traffic bet
ter than any other.
Generally, the bridge could be
"a low-level one, as requested by
the Roosevelt association. Until
1T passed the island, its height
could be no higher than that OF
Arlington Memorial Bridge. Be-
yond the island, however, 1t
would have to rise fairly sharply
Ito clear the George Washington
Memorial parkway and railroad
tracks to the west. y
Cost Still a Puzzle
One of the most important
jobs of the engineers this week
end will be to determine esti-
mates of cost-especially through
the Virginia commercial area.
AS OF now. officials said. they
have no data on which to even
hazard a guess. About year
ago, a route which went nearer
to Rosslyn was estimated to
cost about $39 million-as
against a $24.5 million estimate
for the Constitution avenue
span.
The cost estimates also are
likely to include more than the
span and its approaches alone
To make connections in Wash
Iington. for example, the western
leg Of the city's proposed "innel
loop expressway" probably woulc
have to be moved to a more
westerly location. It now is
planned to run between Twenty.
third and Twenty-fou streets
INV. ...
Farewell Purty