Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-20

attended by more than 100 E
Bethesdans who favored the
road-widening plan.
The project, according to
Mason A. Butcher, county direc-
tor of public works, will provide
for the widening of the thorough
fare from 18 and 20 feet to A
feet. The enlargement would in
volve a half mile section of the
tree-lined road from a point 300
feet south of Bethesda avenue
northward to Arlington roads
intersection with Old Georgetown
road and Wilson lane. The pres
Ient 50-foot right-of-way would
be increased to Sc feet and the
road construction would cost
about 1925. 900.
Backed by Chamber
Spokesman for business inter-
ests in favor of the project was
Donal Lee Chamberlin. president
of the Bethesda-C Chevy Chase
Chamber of Commerce, who said
the chamber has advocated this
for the last several years" He
said the present road is narrow,
heavily travelled and dangerous
and he urged county council
members to start construction
"at the earliest possible date"
James R. Miller, a Rockville
attorney representing Bethesda
business interests. said 1000
cars use Arlington road daily.
It's widening is IAN absolute
necessity for the proper eco
nomic development of the area, +"
he said.
Others Support Project
Other speakers who favored
the project included Carl Wer-
ner, owner of a gasoline serv-
ice station at Bradley boulevard
and Arlington road-the road S
Southerly terminus; Leslie B.
Bell, jr.. Bethesda laundry OPP
orator; John A. Sullivan, jr.. an
architect, and County Circuit
Court Judge John r. Reeves.
Judge Reeves, who was ap-
Ipointtd to the circuit bench last
year, told the council he felt he
should speak forthrightly since
II disagree with most of my
former neighbors."
Judge Reeves said his home
was at 7415 Arlington road until
he moved about II days ago.
The trees on Arlington road
are beautiful but they are a
traffic hazard" he declared.
He recommended that the
council establish an 80-foot
| right-of-way, acquiring all the
needed land on the east side of
Arlington road. The present
plan calls for widening both sides
Iof the thoroughfare.
Represented BY Attorneys
The Edgemoor contingent was
represented by attorney Carey E.
Quinn. He said that although
the road project is designed to
provide a traffic bypass west Of
the crowded Bethesda business
district along Wisconsin avenue,
the project would not eliminate
traffic bottlenecks at Old George
town road and Bradley boule-
ward.
| Other opposition speakers and
their views included:
/ Phillip c. Clarke, president of
the Edgemoor Citizens Associa-
ton: I'VE feel We should get
as much consideration as the
merchants" He suggested traf-
fic congestion could be relieved
by parking ban during rush
hours on Wisconsin avenue and
Old Georgetown road.
Oscar Sutermeister, who spoke
both as traffic engineer and as
representative of the Ayrlawn
Citizens Association. declared be-
fore major road widening prof.
ects are undertaken, every effort
should be made TO increase the
capacities of intersection bottle
necks.
/ Lee Somers. chairman of the
Edgemoor Citizens Association
Traffic Committee: Widening of
Arlington road to "a feet as rec
commended by the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. would be ac-
ceptable to the residents. Major
reconstruction would reullire the