Evening star., 1957-04-26
Bible Seeks Bridge
Decision in 2 Weeks
Senators Study
Doto Obtuined
AT Hearings
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE

Senator Bible, Democrat Of
Nevada. said today he win call.
Ia meeting Of his Senate District
subcommittee in about two
weeks to try to reach q decision
on the Constitution avenue
|bridge-tunnel controversy.
He said he wants this much
time for a full study by sub-
committee members of yolumi.
nous testimony presented in hear
ings his group ended yesterday.
The chairman said he has
reached no final conclusion" on
his own position between city
highway officials fight for a six
lane bridge, park officials drive
for a four-lane tunnel and the
appeal of two business firms for
"a draw span in the event a bridge
lis built.
The House and Senate twice
previously have voted for a six
lane bridge. A few weeks ago,
however. a House District sub
committee approved the four
lane tunnel bill-reportedly as
Ia means Of circumventing a
House-Senate fight over whether
IA bridge should have a draw
span.
Senator Bible made plain yess
terday, however. that he feels
the draw span issue must be re-
solved on its own merits, re-
Igardless of whether a bridge or
tunnel is approved at Constitu-
ton avenue. Unless this issue is
settled, he pointed out, other
needed Potomac bridges could
not be built.
Bureau Urges Bridge
Yesterdays hearings wound
up with strong support from
the Federal Bureau of Public
Roads for six-lane bridge.
Walter Kurlo, BPR attorney,
said the Potomac crossing at
Constitution avenue will have to
handle Virginia Washington
traffic on the Federal system Of
interstate highways, and that q
four-lane tunnel would be in
adequate for this purpose. He
also contended that studies by
the Army engineers-charge
with maintaining the Potomac
River-have ruled out the me-
cesslty of a draw span in the
bridge.
A. NJ. Parker, vice president Of
the Smoot Sand 6E Gravel Co.,
iand G. H. Montgomery, American
OH Co. official. testified that op-
Ierations Of their firms IN the
Georgetown area required draw
spans to let vessels pass to their
installations.
/ Amoco, which is most affected,
probably would have to move
its oil operations to Baltimore
Ii a fixed-span bridge were built,
according to Mr.. Montgomery.
Mr. Parker, whose firm is less
directly affected. argued that
the bridges should be kept open
to permit dredges to clear silt
deposit which he said threaten
the Potomac.
Pipe Line Suggested
Mr.. Kurlo said he did not be-
lieve the Army Engineers, who
nave responsibility for protect
ing the river, would have ap-
proved a fixed span bridge If
there were a strong threat to
the river. He also con. -.UsG s..e
Amoco operation at Rosslyn
could be maintained by deliver
ing oil downriver from existing
Potomac bridges, and, running
1T in a pipeline from that point
to Rcsslyn at a cost of SIS
million.
Mr.. Parker also argued that
drawspans would not obstruct
auto traffic seriously since reg
ulstions already prohibit draw
span openingsg during morning
and evening rush hours.
Washington I. Cleveland,
American Automobile Associ-
alton official, proposed that the
drawspan problem might be
compromised by a law that
would ban openings between 6
am. and 8 pm. but permit
them in other hours. He
strongly supported a six-lane
bridge. as did Clifton G. Stone
burner, Arlington County high
way engineer.
Supporting the four-lane tun-
mel was Maj. Gen. u. S. Grant
III, representing the Committee
Iof 100 on the Federal City. He
opposed any bridge on grounds
that it would wreck esthetic
values Of the Lincoln Memorial
area, and said four lanes would
handle traffic.