Evening star., 1955-11-04
c constitution Bridge
Route Is Approved
Approaches
Also OK'd BY
PIuns Group

A compromise plan for the
route and approach roads to the
long delayed Constitution avenue
bridge was approved today By
the National Capital Planning
Commission.
The action was q major. step
forward which should pave the
way for detailed plans for the
new six-lane. low-leyel bridge
near the Lincoln Memorial.
The span extends from the
Washington shore about $50 feet
north Of Constitution avenue.
crossing the south tip of Roose.
welt Memorial Island before
reaching Virginia.
The plan is expected to 20
TO the Fine Arts Commission
next week and also to the Theo-
Idore Roosevelt Association. Gus.
Itodians Of the island. for in.
Idorsement.
The District must get pernis.
sion from Congress to cross the
Island before construction can
start. But this is expected to
come readily If the agencies
agree. The bridge could be built
In three years.
Dispute Over Approaches
The planners approval TODAY
followed months of work to move
the bridges complicated WASH
lington approach roads as far
north Of the Lincoln Memorial
las possible.
The plan approved actually
showed only temporary connec.
ions to serve as soon as the
bridge is flnished-and the corn-
mission almost begged down in
9 major hassle over them. Later.
more extensive Washington ap-
proach roads will be developed
when the Inner loop" express
way is built several years after
the bridge opens.
The row developed because the
plan showed temporary connec-
tons from the bridge to Consti-
tuition avenue on the east. In.
dependence avenue on the south
and E street on the north.
Harland Bartholomew, COM
mission chairman, .'unalterably
opposed" the E street connec-
Ition, contending that the District
would send streams Of cars east
ward that would make "a trafIic
circus out the White House"
Supported by Wirth
i Mr.. Bartholomew was sun.
lIported by Conrad L. Wirth. Ma.
'Itional Park Service chief. chair.
Imam Of the special COMMITTEES
(which had approved the traffic
scheme.
il The commission finally adopt
LED Mr.. Wirth's report, but left
IIopen the question Of the bridges
northern connection, and left
.iopen the question of permanent
connection until the inner loon
lis designed.
] The E street controversy has
ragged for years between the
planners and District Highway
Iofhcials and has been one of the
bottlenecks in the bridge prog
lresS.
Mr.. Wirth said he went along
with the compromise design as
the best solution possible but
felt the bridge itself was a basic
mistake I'VE win regret as long
ias We live"
i Asks Explanation
In another action, the com.
mission ordered an explanation
of any possible conflict between
Its staff and private investors
planning the rnulti-million doi-
lar Potomac Plaza apartment
land Office building development
near the Potomac River in Foggy
Bottom.
The matter came up when
john Nolen. jr., commission di-
rector. reported that the first
apartment building is about to
go under construction.
| Mr.. Nolen said he had not at
tempted to block this but had
written the developers that the
construction would reduce the
j freedom" of planning in Foggy
Bottom. He also said his staff
lis studying a modification of the
proposed inner loop expressway
which might cut through part
}of the project.
[ District Engineer Commis-:
lsioner Thomas A. Lane said the
icity's plan for the loop skirts the
Potomac Plaza buildings. He said
he knew nothing Of Mr.. Nolen's
new study.
| Mr.. Bartholomew instructed
two standing committees of the
group to straighten out the issue
in a report In December and to
make certain that the private
developers are brought In on the
Icommittee meetings