Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-06
SeatOn Seeking
Bridge Accord
By Next Week
Secretary to Ask
Some Changes in
D. c. Approaches
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE
star stan Writer

OtCTCJdIN u 1IlOCIlOI 0CdOOi
said today he hopes to work
out an agreement with the Dis
trict Commissioners early next
week that would permit con-
struction to go ahead on the
Constitution avenue bridge at
its presently authorized loca-
ton.
Mr.. Seaton said he would
suggest "some alterations" of
approach roads on the District
side of the river in the vicinity
Of the Lincoln Memorial.
He said he had high hopes,
however, that agreement will
be reached ito at least the
comparative satisfaction of
everyone"
If the Secretary'S hopes are
realized, the long logjam of
bridge controversy could break
wide open and construction on
the first few approach roads,
could begin almost immedi-
ately. The six-lane masonry
bridge would take about two
and one-half years to complete.
House Rejects Delay
The bridge project got a
powerful push last Monday
when the House District Com
mittee killed a move to delay
the bridge until the House re-
examines proposals for a four
lane tunnel. In a resolution,
the House committee directed
the District to proceed forth
with" ON the bridge.
That action has been in
terpreted as removing the last
congressional hurdle to the
bridge. The Commissioners,
however, still required clear
ance from Mr.. Seaton. Presi-
dent Eisenhower, when he
signed the bridge act four years
ago, said the Secretary of In
terror should approve the bridge
layout in relation to its i'm
pact on Federal parklands in
the Lincoln Memorial area.
Mr.. Seaton said his main
concern has been with effects
of the complex system OF APP
proach roads and bridges on
this lincoln Memorial itself.
AS authorized by the 1854
act, the six-lane bridge would
be located between Arlington
Memorial bridge and Theodore
Roosevelt Island, connecting
with the end of Constitution
avenue on the District side.
Question Dispelled
The big question mark has
been whether Mr.. Seaton might
urge a re-opening of proposals
to move the bridge upriver to
cross Roosevelt Island. and
therefore further away from
the Lincoln Memorial area.
The Secretary said today.
however, that he hopes agree
ment can be reached to build
the bridge where the District
now wants it, at the location
approved four years ago.
Mr.. Seaton said he feels
strongly that nobody wants
more time to go by" without
construction of the critically
needed bridge and that he is
Every hopeful of having the
whole thing ironed out next
week."
The District Commissioners
yielded three years ago to pleas
from Federal Fine Arts and
park and planning officials that
Congress be asked to modify
the bridge location so it could
cross Roosevelt Island. This
move failed on Capitol Hill,
however. when park officials
switched their allegiance from
this proposal to a tunnel. The
Senate approved the tunnel bill
last year, but the House did not.
SeatOn Cool to Tunnel
1t is known that Mr.. Seaton
has not been sympathetic to the
tunnel moves, and he said he
has had staff aides working
continuously on the bridge pos
sibilities since plans were SUBJ
See BRIDGE. Page Az