Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-20

said, he will open negotiations
with Beach drive south Of Piney
Branch. This plan also was ap-
proved by the Planning Com
mission. But it. also. never was
built.
Mr.. Wirth told a reporter one
problem was that satisfactory
negotiations" never were worked
out with Smithsonian officials
on the project.
Another factor, however. was
commonly believed to be a fear
on the part of park officials
that If the parkway were ex-
tended to Colorado avenue pres
sure would build up to extend
1t all the way northward through
Rock Creek Park to connect with
new U. S. Route 240 in Mary
land. Such a proposal was
backed officially at that time by
District and Maryland highway
leaders.
May Revise 4-Lane Plan
Pressure of that threat new,
however. is believed to be les
soned by new District proposals
to build an expressway along the
Potomac River from downtown
Washington in Foggy Bottom to
connect with Route 240 near
Cabin John, Md.
In view of the new develop
ments. Mr. Wirth said he prob
ably will go back to plans for a
four-lane extension Of the park
way "if traffic justifies it."
Meanwhile, Mr.. Wirth said he
wrote to Gen. Lane last February
about conference on their COM
mon road budgeting problems.
but failed to get response until
after the park budget was pre-
pared last May.
In letter to Gen. Lane three
weeks ago. Mr.. Wirth suggested
stats of the two agencies get
together Immediately on budget
proposals for the next fiscal year.
The conferences last week were
the first steps in this direction.
Some Projects Listed
Following are some Of the prof.
ects likely to be taken up:
/. Improvement Of Independ-
ence avenue between the Four
teenth street bridges and the
Lincoln Memorial.
This improvement is part of
the Districts Inner loop" ex-
pressway route. Independence
avenue was selected after park
officials opposed city plans to
build an expressway along Ohio
drive near the Potomac. But
responsibility for providing the
Improvements has not been set
tied.
2. A ramp from the Virginia
end of Key Bridge to let Virginia.
bound motorists swing upriver
to the George Washington me-
mortal parkway.
Money for this $250,000 job
was provided by the Park Serv-
ice and the Virginia Highway
Department more than a year
ago, and construction was ex-
pected by the time the District
widened Key Bridge. The bridge
widening is virtually complete,
but the ramp has not been start
ed. Park officials said contracts
are expected to be let by April
l. One reason for the delay, they
said. is that design plans were
changed.
8 Improvement of the two
main Mall roads between the
United States Capitol and Lin
coin Memorial. including over
passes of Twelfth and Four
teenth streets NV.
Park officials who see the road
improvement at fastening re-
moval of unsightly tempos on
the Mall. have budgeted money
to start the Twelfth street over
passes after july /. Officials said
work also must be done on
Twelfth street. however. and
that responsibility for that work
has not been settled.
4. Improvement of Military
road at Rock Greek Park. in
GLIDING a bridge over Rock
Creek.
District officials said they
awarded a contract for the
bridge job, after months of I'M
successful negotiation to resolve
all details of the improvement
dncinn