Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-05
Span Route Settled
By Planning Group
Jones Point
Clearance Left
up in Air
By GEORGE BEvERIDGE

Dy OEOhOE bEVEhlUGE
Federal planners yesterday ap.
proved the precise route of the
proposed Jones Point bridge,
without taking a position on-the
issue of the bridges navigationaI
clearance.
National Capital Planning
Commission approval of route
plans and traffic connections,
submitted by the Federal Bu-
Ireau of Public Roads, cleared one
more hurdle for the Alexandria
span over the Potomac.
But the bridges crucial prob.
lem-the lack Of a decision about
its navigational clearance, still is
to be solved.
Congress, authorizing the
bridges construction at Federal
expense, said the spans piers
Should have a horizontal clear
ance OF about $50 feet. A num-
Der of protests about adequacy
of this clearance has brought a
re-study of the entire Question
by the United States District
Engineer.
NOlen Asks Study
John Nolen. jr.. planning com.
mission director. said he felt the
city of Alexandria interest in
future development of its harbor
might warrant further study Of
the clearance issue by the COM
mission. But the commission de-
cided to approve the bridge
route. with the understanding
that the clearance problem will
be resolved by appropriate Fed
eral agencies"
| Meanwhile, Public Roads Com
missioner c. D. CurtiSs disclosed
he has called a meeting Tues
day to try to settle responsibility
for maintenance of the new
bridge. Congress said Maryland
and Virginia should work out
the maintenance cost problem,
but the two States want the
District to share in the cost.
Mr.. Curtiss said he has invited
j. N. Robertson, District high
way director; Robert Bonnell,
Maryland Roads Commissioner,
Highway Department chairman,
and James Anderson. Virginia
Highway Department chairman,
to attend.
Actien Area B
: In another action. the plan.
, ners approved a site plan show
ing private buildings proposed
in the 80-scre Area B southwest
redevelopment plan. The action
/. relates mainly to a two block
area-between Third. Fourth. G
and I streets S.W.-which will
be the first to be rebuilt.
i Private redevelopers hope to
begin construction of the first
large block by early next year.
1t is to include 482 housing units
400 Of them in an eight-story
apartment house and the rest
in two and three bedroom row
houses.
The planners also disclosed
that studies are under way for
the possible expansion of the
length Of Fort Lesley j. McNair
one block eastward to Second
street Sc. The fort now extends
from p street to Greenleaf
Point, between the Washington
Channel and Canal street. The
possible expansion area is be-
tween Canal and Second streets.
Occupied by TempOs
Col. Alexander @. Stone, fort
commander. said this area now
is occupied by Government tenn
porary buildings. The Army, he
said, has initiated steps 10 OBJ
tain the land for the forts ex.
panslon when the tempos are
RACED as part of the city's long
range tempo removal program.
One possibility Of the new
areas use. Col. Stone said, is for
family housing for students who
attend the forts Armed Forces
Industrial College and National
War College The two large
schools enroll $50 students in
each class. with no family hous-
ing for them on the post.