Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-06
HIGHWAY


to be the difflculties In building
an eight-lane truck-passenger
car expressway down the length
of Glover-Archbold Park, be-
tween Tenley circle and Canal
road.
Mr.. Keith commended this OBJ
lection would be Offset by q
so-called tunnel route" which
would bend the expressway
from Wisconsin avenue east
ward along Massachusetts, ave-
nue. to the downtown section.
This plan calls for the express
way TO be buried for most Of its
length IN two huge tunnels far
beneath Massachusetts, avenue
TO carry truck and passenger
car trafiic. Mr.. Keith said this
could be done with two two
lane tunnels which would not
increase the District expense
measureably since the Federal
Government would pay 80 per
cent Of the cost Of the inter-
state system expressway.
Advantages Cited
In describing the Massa-
chusettS avenue tunnel route"
Mr.. Keith and Mr.. Nolen said
one Of its great advantages was
that 1t would not impair surface
properties such as embassies
and the Washington Cathedral
buildings along the avenue.
They conceded that they did
not have enough detailed en-
cheering data to answer all
the questions about such a
route but urged District high
way ofiicials to obtain such data
as their next order Of business.
Mr.. Robertson attacked the
planners argum ent and
launched a special criticism
against the tunnel route.
He said sufficient studies have
not been made to determine
whether the route would be
feasible. but that traffic studies
show that seven tunnel road
lanes would be required along
Massachusetts,. not four as the
planners contend.
In addition. Mr.. Robertson
charged. such a seven-lane
tunnel route would bring the
expressway cost to about sl10
million. He said this was more
than double the estimated cost
Of the Potomac River route and
il is about double the amount
the planners estimated for it
also.
Cites Smaller Cost
The city highway chief said
the so called route Az. along
the river which he favors. would
cost $l3 million less than any
proposal in the Wisconsin ave-
nue. area, but that he was not
hasing his support on that fact.
He contended the river route
would offer "the best balance in
trafiic service" to residents of
the new threat. Maryland and
Virginia because it would con-
meet with a proposed new bridge
across the Potomac near Ari-
IONA avenue. Spokesman for
both sides differed as to
whether the cost of the new
Arizona avenue bridge should
be figured as part Of the ex-
preSsway cost.
nue. and Canal road near the
C&O canal.
Two routes have been pro-
posed along the Potomac. Route
A would remain on the high
bluffs overlooking the river and
would cut through residential
areas in the Potomac Palisades
area. Mr.. Robertson favored
the second river line. Route
Az. which would be closer to
the river so that its roadways
could run along Potomac ave-
Views Outlined
The highway director said
this would affect only one
third as many residents at
Route A. He also contended 1t
would effect a minimum net
loss Of park facilities" and that
it would destroy no more park
area than the National Park
service intends to do with Its
proposed George Washington
Memorial Parkway between
Washington and Great Falls.
Route Az would provide a
oeautifully-dignifisd entrance
to the nations capital. no
other entrance would have a
comparable esthetic appeal" =
ne said.
Mr.. Brinkley contended that
the Wisconsin avenue route