Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-05
Island Trustees
Back Span Plan
BY GEORGE BEvERDGE

The Theodore Roosevelt As
ISOLATION has formally approved
the District plan to run the new
Constitution avenue bridge
across the southern end Of
Roosevelt Memorial Island.
The island trustees attached
only one condition to their action
that access for both pede-
strians and motorists be pro-
vided from the bridge to park
ing facilities on the island.
City highway officials are
agreeable to the condition, at
least to the point Of providing
some degree Of access.
Position Set Forth
The association position, q
key question mark in the future
.ot the ng-disputed Potomac
crossing. was stated in a letter
from Oscar S. Straus, II. assoc
|iation president, to District En-
'gineer Commissioner Thomas A.
Lane.
Mr.. Straus' letter said Fine
Arts Commission members also
are agreeable to the new bridge
route. Since the revised plans
also have been approved by the
United States Engineers. who
control the Potomac. and by the
National Capital Planning Com
mission, the Interior Department
lis the only one of the agencies
directly involved which has not
given the plan q go-ahead.
District officials said they are
awaiting an Interior letter. as
well as one stating the formal
Fine Arts Commission position.
With receipt Of the Roosevelt
Association Endorsement, how
ever, Gen. Lane said he would
press Immediately for House &C.
ton on a minor legislative
change necessary to permit the
island crossing.
Under law now authorizing the
six-lane. $24.5 million span, its
location was set at some point
south Of Roosevelt Island and
north Of Arlington Memorial
Bridge. The Senate. in the clos
ing days Of the last session.
amended the act to permit the
island crossing. Congress ad-
journed, however. without the
House following suit.
Confer Gin Day or SO"
Gen. Lane said he will confer
"in the next day or so" with Rep
'resentative Davis, Democrat Of
Georgia. chairman of a House
District subcommittee which will
handle the amendment.
Mr.. Davis at the end of the
last session said he did not want
the subcommittee to act without
a hearing because Of controversy
which had enveloped the island.
Since then. however, the COM
promise plan has been worked
out in numerous conferences by
the agencies themselves.
Mr.. Strauss letter noted that
the bridges shift northward"
had been made at the Fine Arts
Commissions request "in order
to keep the necessary network Of
approach roads, on the District
side. away from the Lincoln
Memorial"
I'VE in the association" he
wrote, would not quarrel with
that decision"
He said the island trustees in
sist, however. that the bridge
provide access to the island not
only for pedestrians but also for
motor cars. We recognize the
problems of parking involved.
but believe that these can be
worked out to the satisfaction Of
ALI the Government agencies
concerned as well as of the asso-
citation and the visiting public"
The bridge would extend from
the District shore just north Of
Constitution avenue and, after
crossing the island, tie into Ar
llington boulevard and other
major Virginia roads.
City officials already have
worked out one plan for access
from the bridge to the island
which they said is about as
extensive q connection that
could be made"