Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-02
FOOTING GA Bill

Our association is deeply
concerned over the apparent
determination of the Central
Intelligence Agency to build
on the Langley, Va, site, re-
gardless Of the enormous ex-
pense involved in transform
ing the inadequate facilities
there. with heavy impact on
the District of Columbia
budget.
The, CHA has fatty stated
that an improved Chain Bridge
and connecting roads are not
required and therefore a CHA
building at Langley will have
no effect on the d. C. budget.
Your editorial January 90
raises the warning flag Of
added heavy cost to District
taxpayers.
Allen Dulles insists on the
Langley location. brushing
aside objections as though
they did not exist. Mr.. Dulles
should clear up the points
raised in the following:
From the Clarke apuano
report re c o. m e n ding the
Langley site:
Chain Bridge should be
widened to provide for six
lanes with q suitable connec-
ton to the proposed new dual
parkway along the abandoned
Baltimore and Ohio Canal on
the east side OF the Potomac
River in the State Of Mary
land. It is further recon-
mended, for immediate i'm
provement, that additional
lanes be added on Canal road
at least from Weaver place to
Chain Bridge and that Weaver
place be improved at least from
Canal road to Macarthur
boulevard"
From a letter Of Bureau OF
Public Roads Of September is.
1885.
THE National Capital Plan
ming Commission appointed a
committee to study the road
and other improvements in
the area that would be re-
quired In the event that the
Central Intelligence Agency
headquarters were located at
that point langley. The Bu-
reau of Public Roads. as well
as the District Of Columbia,
was represented on that COM
mittee. The committee re-
ported that the immediate
road needs would be as fol-
lows:
"A four-iane bridge in the
Chain Bridge area either by
new construction or widening
the present bridge; provision
for additional lanes On Canal
road at least from Weaver
place to Chain Bridge ~: Inn
provement Of Weaver place at
least from Canal road to Mac
Arthur boulevard"
From the Report on High
ways. Bridges and Utilities as
they relate to the site selec-
ton OF the CHA Building as
prepared by Charles M. Upham.
a consulting engineer OF inter-
national repute: q
1T is my Judgment that the
following bridge construction
would be required to meet the
minimum bridge requirements
II the Langley site were Sc
lected:
Replacement Of Chain
Bridge with a new four-lane
bridge with necessary approach
roads on the District as well
as the Virginia side"
The fact that a CHA at Lang
ley would have a serious and
immediate impact on the D. c.
budget Is further reported by
Earle s. Draper. planning con-
sultant: Max s. Wehrly, direc-
tor of Urban Land Institute,
and Circular Memorandum No.
43 Of the National Capital Re-
gional Planning Council.
We also call attention to the
fact that D. C. highway off,
Gals have been quoted as stat
Ing that whereas the situation
at Chain Bridge Is tight, many
other situations in the District
are much more critical and
improvements at Chain Bridge
are at least 10 years off.
In the Recommended High
way Improvement Program" of
1862, as prepared for the Dis
trict. Virginia and Maryland to
cover period of 10 years and
beyond. we find no recommen-
dalton for an improved Chain
Bridge whatsoever and that
improvements to Canal road
are recommended as follows:
within the first 10 years
from Whitehurst Freeway to
Foxhall road at an estimated
cost Of 1881 900. and for be-
yond 10 years. the section from
Foxhall road to Chain Bridge
at q cost Of about s4.O56. 000."
This same study also recon-.