Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-07
Official Reports
Amount Available
In Next 3 Years

n Staggering S1Uo mllllOn VIII
be available for highway con-
struction here for the next three
years with Federal payments
under the new national highway
program, District Highway Di-
rector J. N. Robertson reported
today.
Mr.. Robertson gave the figure
in talk explaining the effect Of
the new highway program on
the District before luncheon
of the Circle Club, composed of
present and former city employees
who are Masons, at 1915 K
street NV.
Under the new Nationwide
program, the Federal Govern
ment will contribute $50 for
every $40 put up by the District
for construction of the inter-
state highway system, which ex-
tends 284 miles within the local
boundaries. he noted.
In addition, the Federal Gov
eminent will continue to match
District money dollar for dollar
on improvement of 208 miles of
primary and secondary, or feeder,
| highways in the District.
Allows Fund Shift
| This means, the highway di-
rector pointed out, that "a great
deal of money" which was to
be spent on the projected inner
loop" of the interstate system
may now be used to match Fed
eral aid funds for construction
of primary and secondary roads.
Mr.. Robertson noted that for
mulas for ALLEGATION of Federal
money to the States for the
entire 13-year period of the pro-
gram have not yet been defined,
pending a needs" study by the
Bureau of Public Roads.
/ But payments for the first
three years of the program have
been announced. The highway
director gave this summary:
For construction of the inter-
state system. the Federal Gov
eminent will put up $31.3 million
and the District. $4.5 million.
For construction on other Fed
S eral systems. the District will
receive $22.l million. to which
the city will add $22.1 million.
Total money available for con-
: struction for the next three
years, including funds author
lied for borrowing under the
Public Works Act, is sos
million.
$3.50 Million Possible
Depending on the outcome Of
the needs" study, the District
$ could receive as much as $3.50
} million in Federal aid over the
: l3-year period, Mr.. Robertson
said.
7 Noting that the District must
be sure it has enough money to
e match Federal grants each year
r and must schedule construction
over the years to provide for the
least dislocation of traffic pat
terms, he listed these major
projects for the interstate
system:
Constitution avenue bridge
and the West Highway Bridge at
) Fourteenth street, awaiting con-
! greSsional authorization to pro-
coed.
: Anacostia Freeway. the Elev-
: enth Street Bridge over the Ana
costa River, the Washington
Channel Crossing. and most Sec
lions of the inner loop. with pre-
liminary plans completed
Improvement of New York
avenue between Florida avenue
: and Bladensburg road. and con-
: struction of a freeway connec-
: ton between central Washing
: ton and the western leg of U. S.
: Route 240. Preliminary plans
are not drawn. but will be de-
/ veloped in advance of scheduled
, construction time. The District
r intends to retain a consultant
soon for study of alternative
; routes.
Progress Report
Mr.. Robertson also gave a
progress report on current ma
jor projects in progress, most of
them in connection with the de-
} velopment and improvement of
kenilworth avenue and East
Capitol street:
Paving of Kenilworth avenue
from Benning road to Lane
place, at $738,297, the largest
single paving contract vet
! awarded in the District, is IS per
cent complete.
Paving of Kenilworth avenue
between Lane place and Ouarles
street on S465, 662 contract. so
per cent complete. Both paving
/ contracts will be completed by
. mid-November.
S770.518 for Overpass
|. Contracts have been awarded
for construction of the Eastern
, avenue overpass at a cost OF
, $770,5l8. and for four pedestrian
overpasses Of Kenilworth avenue
, Iat s406.S72. Work should be
completed before next summer.
In connection with the East
Capitol street development, the
: S2.343.974 structure at Minne-
; sofa avenue is virtually complete.
; The only remaining job on East
, Capitol street. paving from Ken
llworth avenue 10 Stoddert
! place, will be finished by mid
November.
Widening OF Key Bridge is
now so per cent complete. The
: work. under s535, 900 contract,
is expected TO be completed By
January.
.24th Infantry Session