Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-04
Bridge Location
Remains Hay
For Planners
Rood Approach
System Questioned
By Parks Official

Warning signals were up to-
day indicating that the location
of the long-authorized Consti-
tuition avenue bridge across the
Potomac is still as fluid as the
river itself.
This apparent situation was
left In the wake Of Congressional
failure to enact legislation to
change the course Of the span so
it would cross the lower tip Of
Theodore Roosevelt Island.
District and Federal officials
finally had agreed on the new 10
cation after city agencies capit-
|ulated to the demand Of Federal
agencies that the originally au-
lthorized location between Ar
llington Memorial Bridge and the
|island-would be esthetically un-
desirable.
The location question was
raised yesterday by District
Highway Director John N. Rob-
|ertson at a meeting Of the Ma
tional Capital Planning Com
mission.
Diagram Submitted
MIR. Robertson submitted q
diagram approximately conso-
|nant with the agreement among
his office. the planning commits
sion, the Fine Arts Commission
and the Theodore Roosevelt
Memorial Association. which has
Ian important voice In how its
island shall be used.
The site of the bridge itself
evoked no adverse comment. But
the bridge roadway approaches,
which, on the District side, espe-
cially resembled the layout Of
the Union Station railroad yards,
drew tart criticism.
Edward J. Kelly, superinten-
dent of National Capital Parks,
wanted to know whether the
highway people were really seri-
Gus in proposing no less than IS
traffic lanes running more or less
parallel and about half as many
separate roadways between E
street and Constitution avenue
to provide access to or bypass
Iof the bridge. ..
Limited Space Cited
Mr.. Robertson and his aides
pointed out that the limited
amount Of space for the ap-
breaches necessitated SO many
roadways.
Douglas S. Brinkley, Highway
Department design engineer,
added that the plan has the
virtues Of adequately connecting
Arlington's Jefferson Davis high
way with the bridge and pro-
viding direct connections with
both Constitution avenue and
the west leg of the inner belt.
The plan. Mr.. Brinkley said,
also offers the novel feature Of
tunneling the inner belt under
the west grounds Of Lincoln Me-
mortal, preserving the vista
there.
Douglas Orr. a member Of the
Fine Arts Commission. waved
this aside, however. Mr.. Orr said
THAT he and his colleagues have
been feeling increasing concern
over further marring of the
tempo-studded Mall, which ex-
tends from the Capitol to the
Potomac River.
He added that he is inclined
to favor swinging the District
end OF the bridge upstream so
that the District approaches
could be shifted accordingly of
1.-THE Mall and north Of Constitu-
ltion avenue.
Even though the latest
lagreed-to location across the
south tip of Roosevelt Island
must be authorized by congress
sional amendment in the next
session, the Highway Depart
nent is understood to be pre-
pared to start engineering plans
with money already available.
But before this 100000 ex-
lpenditure would be undertaken,
Mr.. Robertson told the commits
sion yesterday, he wants in writ
ling the agreement Of the Fine
Arts Commission and the Roose-
welt Memorial Association to
place the bridge across the south
end of the island.
mot that we don't trust these
gentlemen" Mr.. Robertson said
with a laugh. I'VE just want 1t
in writing so that when we 60
back for the necessary legislation
next session there won't be any
~. ov,n nharro0