Evening star., 1961-05-27
North Virginia Gets
Bio Fund for Roads
$28.8 Million
AIIocoted for
Nearby Area
BY ALEX r. PRESTON
Star Staff Writer

Quar- obdAI "IlSSE
RICHMOND, May 81. -
Northern Virginia today had
a major share of ALLEGATIONS
approved by the State Highway
Commission for primary, urban
and interstate roads.
Serious consideration also
was being given to a plea for
relief of traffic conditions on
Route 7 Oeesburg pike be-
tween Baileys Cross Roads and
the Seven Corners shopping
center in Fairfax County.
The commission. meeting
yesterday after two days Of
public hearings in Roanoke and
Richmond, approved alloca-
tions of $142.8 million to eight
highway construction districts.
This is the largest annual allo-
cation for road-building funds
in the States history.
SIT Million for BeltWay
The Culpeper construction
district, which embraces the
Washington Metropolitan area,
with an ALLEGATION of 1892 mil
lionS got the lions share Of
the allocationS.
Prominent among projects in
this ALLEGATION was more than
SIT million for completion Of
the Capital beltway. the circu-
lar express route that will sur
round Washington in Maryland
and Virginia.
The next highest ALLEGATION
was to the Suffolk construction
district ($24.1 million), which
embraces the States second
most populous area around Nor
folk and Portsmouth. The Rich
mond district got 1884 million.
The smallest ALLEGATION went
to the Lynchburg diStrict-$5.6
million.
The commission earlier had
approved an additional alloca-
tion of $42 million for Virginia'S
secondary road system.
Mrs. Anne wilkins, chairman
Of the Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors, led a. delegation
which sought Improvement for
the section of Route 7 between
BaileyS Cross Roads and the
Seven Corners shopping area.
She, said there is a daily traf-
fic count of $4,000 vehicles on
the 21a-mile stretch Of road
way.
The ultimate solution. Mrs.
wilkins contended, is to convert
the artery from its present
four-lane width to six lanes.
But until funds can be found
for that, she said, the immedi-
ate solution would be to erect
"left-turn storage lanes" at sew
eral major intersections and
reduce the speed limit from 40
to 35 miles an hour.
Drowned in Autos"
Mrs. Wilkins was supported
in her presentations by Jack
Stewart, representing business
men of the Culmore shopping
area, and Sam Harril, repre-
senting businessmen of the
BaileyS Cross Roads area.
IF we don't get some relief
soon." Mr.. Harril told the COM
mission, we're going to be
drowned in automobiles. We
don't need help tomorrow -
we needed it yesterday"
Arlington's traffic problems
were presented by Clifton G..
Stoneburner. county highway
engineer.
Mr.. Stoneburner noted that
there are no provisions in the
ALLEGATIONS for construction of
an approach ramp to the
Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
across the Potomac River,
which will connect with Wash
ington in the vicinity Of the
Lincoln Memorial. The bridge
now is under construction.
1T would be very embarasS-
ing to u.s." Mr.. Stoneburner
said, Ito have the bridge open
and no access to it,"
Highway Commissioner H. H.
Harris told a reporter later that
funds would be available to
connect the bridge 10 Arlington
boulevard but that a later
ALLEGATION would have to be
made to build a connection
with the RoSslyn business area.