Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-03
City Heads Back
Potomac Route
ForExpressway
Action Clears Way
For Detailed Study
Of Rood Along River

~ DStuHSu Stuuy
Of Rood Along River
The District Commissioners to-
day favored a route along the Po-
tomac River for a new expressway
to connect the "inner-loop" sys-
TEN near Washington Circle in
downtown Washington with
Maryland's U. S. Route 240 west
Of the city near Cabin John.
The Commissioners action to-
day:
/. Permits a consultant to
make detailed studies for a pre-
else location of the road along
the river.
2. Gives the city highway de-
partment a specific route to rec
ommend to the Federal Bu-
reau of Public Roads on January
Is as a part of the Federal sys-
TEN Of interstate highways. APP
proved routes on the interstate
system are eligible TO have 80
per cent of their road costs paid
oy the Federal Government.
The new expressway route Sc
ected was strongly favored by
Highway Director J. N. Robert
son from among four possible
routes suggested by a consulting
t1rm a few weeks ago.
Joins X Street
Moving westward from Wash
ington Circle. the expressway
would connect with K street NV.
and be carried on a four-lane
elevated structure just south of
and parallel to the Whitehurst
freewsy between Twenty-sev-
snth street and Key Bridge.
The present four-lane White
hurst freeway passes under the
second arch of Key Bridge from
its Georgetown end. The pro-
posed new freeway would pass
under the third arch of the
bridge, then overpass Canal road
and the Gao Canal and follow
the ridge above Canal road to
the Maryland line. Beyond that
point, Maryland would continue
the road to meet Route 240 near
Cabin John.
The proposal contemplates that
the present Whitehurst freewayI
would be converted to one-way
veStbound traffic with the new
twin" freeway carrying east
bound cars.
S46.2 Million Cost
The new road would cost about
s46.2 million for the District por-
ton.
The Commissioners acted after
a long discussion about whether
the proposal should be submitted
to the National Capital Planning
Commission for its views before
the city heads tied down the
route. John Nolen. jr.. Planning
Commission Director. served
notice that the route raises "seri-
GUS questions" One. he said, is
whether the route can be worked
out satisfactorily with plans for
the George Washington Memo
rial Parkway which Federal Park
officials also plan to build along
the river from the District line to
Great Falls.
This. in fact. is expected to be
the key problem for the road.
Maryland officials are expected
to urge that the George Wash
ington parkway be used as the
connecting link in MarylandI If
this road is an interstate sys-
tenn" route it would have to per-
NIT trucks, however. And Fed
eral park officials do not want
trucks on their road.
Urges Study of Route
Mr.. Nolen also said the route
should be studied along with
possible rapid transit propos-
ais" and that some officials
think a more desirable interstate
route might be one of the other
alternates suggested by the con-
sultants-through the Glover
Archbold park leading to Wis
cousin avenue near the District
line.
Mr.. Robertson said immediate
action was required today, how
ever, because the District had
to decide on a firm route at 6
meeting with the Federal Bu-
reau of Public Roads on January
Is. He stressed also that Off
Gals of the bureau and of the
Maryland Roads Commission
both favor the river route.
In addition, Mr.. Robertson
said, the city must build a diff.
ferent parkway through Glover
Archbold Park within the next
five wears To meet additional