Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-17
Planning Board
Approves Route
For Inner Loop
Proposal to Scrip
Memorial Pprkwuy
Pluns Is Argued


The National Capital Plan
ming Commission yesterday re-
solved one major Washington
highway controversy and stepped
into the middle Of Q brand-new
one.
The planners gave unanimous
approval to Q route for the city's
inner loop expressway through
Foggy Bottom. which win not
|endanger private development
projects planned there by the
Potomac Plaza Corp. and by the
Peoples Life Insurance Co.
They heard arguments ALSO
however, on q new National Park
Service proposal to scrap exist
ing plans for the George WASH
lington Memorial parkway be-
tween the District line and Cabin
John. Md. and draw new ones.
The bid was resisted strongly by
III. J. Spelman, Bureau Of Public
Roads district engineer.
The inner loop action knocked
out two alternate route posi-
lbilities. which would have run
the highway through big ofiice
building and apartment projects
near the intersection Of New
Hampshire and Virginia avenues
INV. in Foggy Bottom.
Swings Eastward
The route approved In prin-
lciple yesterday had been pro-
posed by District highway con-
sultants. II would swing the
highway eastward Of the private
developments, passing between
|Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth
streets NV. south Of Washing
ton circle.
Three Of these blocks are
owned by the George Washing
ton University. OfIicials Of the
school told the planners the
blocks were needed for expan-
sion projects, and strongly pro-
tested the consultants' route.
Oficials Of the Potomac Plaza
and Peoples Life firms con-
tended that alternate routes.
however, also would endanger
their projects. Both said they
intend to begin construction
early next year.
Commission Chairman Har-
land Bartholomew argued
strongly against designing major
road projects for the conyen-
fence OF prospective (private)
development" But he did not
vote in the final balloting.
The commission took no action
on the new George washington
parkway proposal. submitted by
Edward J. Kelly, National Capt.
tai Parks superintendent, on be-
half Of National Park Director
Conrad L. With.
Mr.. With, in q letter, said the
divided four-lane parkway all
ready designed between the
Chesapeake q Ohio Canal and
Macarthur boulevard causes ex-
lcessive damage" to the land
scape.
He proposed that. initially.
only q two-lane road be built
near the canal. and that later
another two-lane road be built
on right Of way Of the streetcar
line which now serves the Glen
Echo area. At such time as the
right Of way is acquired, under
his plan. each Of the two-lane
roads could serve one-way traffic.
Engineer Objects
Mr.. Spelman. who said he
submitted plans for the four
lane roadway to park officials
last May. objected vigorously.
He said Congress, as well as
Maryland taxpayers who helped
purchase the land. meant that a
four-lane road be provided. He
commended that it was not fea-
Isible to build one two-lane road
and hope that at some time In
the future land could be ac-
|quired for another two lanes.
He said he thinks the first
roadway would create such an
increase In land values I'VE
wouldn't be ablt to- acquire It,"
II would like to get started
|on one Of the roadways as soon
as possible" Mr.. Kelly said.
mo-" Mr.. Spelman replied.
I'D rather do nothing at all
than something that's wrong"
Mr.. Bartholomew referred the
matter tn the commission staff