Evening star., 1955-04-25
City Officials
Views Asked
On Inner Loop
Comments Sought
On Huge Freewoy
Plan by Muy IS

~" Hu9e TTeeWoy
Plan by Moy IS
District department heads
have been asked to comment by
May is on plans for the city's
proposed multi million dollar
inner loop" freeway to divert
traffic around downtown Wash
ington.
One Highway Department off,
cial, who said the project might
cost as much as a quarter -of-a
billion dollars to complete in the
next few years or so, declared
the plans were disclosed to af-
fected departments at a confer
ence last Thursday.
The plans were prepared by
the Chicago firm of consultantS,
DeLeuw. Gather Co., which is to
complete $235. 900, six-month
study next June.
Highway Director John N.
Robertson said the comments of
other departments were asked
to carry out his idea to con-
suit everybody as we went
along"
Mostly Below Ground Level
Plans for the freeway, most
Of which will be depressed be-
low ground level, will require
detailed adjustment of sewer
and water lines and mass tram
sit routes, it was explained.
Attending the brief1ng by the
consultants Thursday were rep
resentatives Of the Department
of Vehicles and Traffic, the San
itary Engineering Department
and of the Bureau of Public
Roads.
A similar briefing is to be pre-
sented to the Co-ordinating
Committee Of the National Cap
ital Planning Commission this
week, and probably to the
NCPC at its next regular meet
ing May 4 and S.
Comments of the affected de-
partments May Is are expected
to disclose any oversights or con-
flicts in the consultants' plan for
the inner loop freeway.
Approval in Principle
Douglas Brinkley, city high
way planner, said approval is
being sought "only in principle
However. he declared of the
consultants' detailed proposal.
II think it is the final word, with
a few adjustments. AS soon as
we get tentative acceptance. we
ought to think about buying
rights Of way"
He said no specific estimate
Of cost has been made yet. but
the consultants are scheduled to,
provide one in their final re-
port. Also in the final report, he
said, will be precise recommended
tions on relocation Of utilities,
details of which are expected to
come out of departmental COM
ments.
The freeway. Mr.. Brinkley
said, goes almost entirely
through areas scheduled for re-
development" under Washing
tons 10-year slum clearance
plan.
Most of the route, he declared,
runs between existing streets
through what are now solid city
blocks. Where there was a choice
of route, he said, the path
through the cheapest property
was chosen.
Almost all of the land will
have to be obtained by condem-
nation, much of it perhaps
under the several slum clearance
programs suggested for the city.
To Be Done in Stages
Mr.. Brinkley pointed out that
the freeway will have to be built
in stages, declaring, I'VE can't
tear up too much of the city at
one time"
During the many years it will
take to complete the inner loop
rs a full-fieged freeway, tenn
porary makeshifts are sched-
lled to be used. One-way streets
with synchronized traffic lights.
for example, will serve to put
The inner loop in operation long
before the freeway is completed.
While no cost estimate has
been made, Mr.. Brinkley said
other cities which have such
are spending well over
100 million on them. Asked If
It might cost $3.50 million, he
1T could" Such con-
'truction. he said, will be hard
20 flnance-and cannot be paid
'or by tolls as can cross-country
'reeways which, by comparison,
ire cheap to build.
First Stage in Southwest
First stage of the inner loop,
to be started next year,
Is the long planned Southwest
Freeway. Similar construction
Is being proposed by the con-
sultants for most of the rest Of
the loop.
On the west it would run
through park property west of
the old Naval Hospital near
Twenty-flfth, swinging north
east at Virginia avenue to paral-
lei New Hampshire avenue and
hen go under Washington Cir
lie.
The north leg would run near
y street and along Florida ave-
nue. On the neast. it would fol-
ow Third street and New Jer-
'ey avenue, connecting with In
dependence avenue and the
Freeway on the south.
The southwest portion of the
oop would run along Ohio drive.
Use Of this route. Mr.. Robert
'on pointed out. is the only way