Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-20
MARYLAND
VIRGINIA NEWS
Silver Spring
10Th St. Route
Still Unsettled
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
star Stan Correspondent

BALTIMORE. July 20.-The
exact route of the proposed ex-
tension of Sixteenth street in
Silver Spring is still up in the air
and possibly further from a de-
cision than it was earlier this
week.
Montgomery County officials
and business leaders yesterday
urged the Maryland State Roads
Commission to use the AnsonI
street route Ito kill two birds
with one stone"
The roads commission stan
wants the extension to Georgia
avenue to follow a so-called Co.
lumbia boulevard route inter-
Secting Georgia avenue just
south of Montgomery Hills.
Commission Chairman Robert
%. Bonnell yesterday said a de-
cision would have to be delayed
pending a restudy of a number
of cost estimates as a result of
a conference held in his Office.
Lee Backs Arson Route
The county delegation includ-
ed Blair Lee III, William B.
Wheeler, Sam Fig, E. Brooke Lee,
Warren Seaton, David Scull, and
County Public Works Director,
Mason Butcher.
Blair Lee urged the Arson
street route as a two-pronged at
tack on traffic congestion in Sill
Iver Spring.
He said it would not only pro-
vide through route for District
bound traffic from the Wheaton
area, but also would relieve the
ColeSville road traffic.
The Arson street route would
be a major link in the proposed
clrcumferential to provide by
passes of the congested Coles
vile road-Georgia avenue inter-
section.
Right of Way at Issue
Mr.. Bonnell asked the dele
cation to see if the County
Council would participate in the
Arson street project to the ex-
tent Of providing the right of
way since it will be tied in with
the county's proposed circum-
terential highway. The roads
commission already has tied up
some $258,00O in right of way
along the Columbia boulevard
route.
MIR. Butcher said the Coles
VILE Georgia avenue intersec-
ton is now carrying some $4,000
cars a day and that construction
OF new subdivisions is lust be-.
ginning in the upper Colesville
road area. He said the Anson|
street route as q part of the
circumferential would help re-
lieve the Colesville road load and
permit it to bypass the central
business section on its way toI
Bethesda and Washington.
Mccain Is Quoted
Mr.. Wheeler said the Legisla-
ture had Arson street in mind
when it passed the 12-year road
program.
Brooke Lee said he had been
assured by Russell B. Mccain.
former roads commission chair
man, that shortly after adoption
OF the 12-year plan that the
Arson street route would be
built.
Mr.. Wheeler added that lust
prior to the Shakeup in the
commission a delegation from
the county met with the COM
mission and left with the under
standing that both routes would
be built if the Federal highway
ali bill were passed.
Lack Funds for Both
Mr.. Bonnell said the roads
commission wants both routes
but does not have the moneN
now.
Mr.. Scull warned that the
completion Of the new Route 29I
would sharply increase traffic
along Colesville road.
Mr.. Brooke Lee urged the
commission to reconsider plans
calling for an overpass of the
BIO Railroad via Arson street
and study the possibility Of an
underpasS.
Mr.. Zig suggested that the
roads commission seek add.
tional Federal funds for prof.
ectS in Montgomery because of
the relocation of Federal in
stallations there.