history of the columbia turnpike presentation1

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA TURNPIKE

Five Topics of Discussion

Colonial Roads and the Need for Turnpikes

Development of Washington, D.C. and Columbia Turnpike

Civil War and Railroads

Government Transportation Experiments

Prominent Structures along the Pike

Roads in America

COLONIAL ROADS

Local responsibility

Unprofessional results

AUTHORIZATION OF TURNPIKES

Legislative not technological

English vs. American Turnpikes

ENGLISH SYSTEM

Organized as trusts

Rates regulated by government

Outside investors

Road returned to public

English vs. American Turnpikes

AMERICAN SYSTEM

New England – Did not subsidize

Virginia – State subsidized

Rates not government regulated

Local Investors

Road remains with turnpike company after amortization of debt

Turnpikes/Toll Roads

1800-1830 = 10,000 miles of turnpikes.

Road Improvements: Roadbeds were

smoothed and hardened

Curves straightened.

Bridges constructed to replace fords.

DC and Columbia Turnpike

Residence Act

District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801

“Instant City”

Slow Growth

Benjamin Henry Latrobe and Turnpikes

Emigrated from England, 1795.

Famous for architectural work.

DC was center for Latrobe’s transportation work.

Solution to Slow Growth is Turnpikes

Little River Turnpike

Long Bridge – 14th Street Bridge

Washington and Alexandria Turnpike Company

Columbia Turnpike Company

Columbia Turnpike Company April 12, 1810

THREE TURNPIKES

Capital to Baltimore

Capital to Montgomery Courthouse

Capital to Shenandoah Valley/Southwest (Columbia Pike)

Stipulations of Columbia Turnpike Charter

Dimensions of road

Toll gates

Maximum toll rates

Repair of roads

Roads to become free

Individual/Animal Price (cents)

Sheep (20) 20

Hogs (20) 20

Cattle (20) 40

Horse/Mule and Rider 12.5

Stage and wagon with two horses 30

Carriage with four horses 40

Led or driven horse/mule 6

Sulkey, chair, chaise, or carriage of pleasure with two wheels and one horse 20

Coach, chariot, coachee, phaeton, or chaiser with four wheels and two horses

37.5

Coach, chariot, coachee, phaeton, or chaiser with four wheels and four horses

50

Sled or sleigh used as a carriage of pleasure

12.5/horse

Sled or sleigh used as a carriage of burden 8/horse

Cart or wagon with wheels under four inches in breadth

12.5/horse

Cart or wagon with wheels over four inches and under seven inches in breadth

6/horse

Cart or wagon with wheels over seven inches and under ten inches in breadth

5/horse

Cart or wagon with wheels over ten inches and under twelve in breadth

4/horse

Columbia Turnpike and the Civil War

Alexandria County

Critical route to the south

Fortification of turnpike

Fort Runyon

Columbia Turnpike and the Civil War

Freedman’s Village

Columbia Pike and W&OD

Columbia Pike and Washington-Virginia Railway

Columbia Pike Experiments, 1911-1915

Alexandria County and US Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Roads

Experimental Maintenance Program

Columbia Pike chosen due to its high amount of traffic

15 Loaded one horse wagons

58Unloaded two horse

wagons

38 Loaded two horse wagons

49Unloaded two horse

wagons

9 Loaded four horse wagons

4Unloaded four horse

wagons

96 Saddle horses

1 Motor runabouts

Columbia Pike Experiments, 1911-1915

Plank Drag’s Purpose: Smoothes Shapes Hardens

Columbia Pike Experiments, 1921

Continually Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) Winter 1921

1st CRCP Road

32 Sections of varying design

Large percentage of longitudinal steel and slabs constructed on a sub-base of cinders.

Military Structures along Columbia Pike

ARLINGTON NAVAL RADIO STATION (1913-1941)

South end of Ft. Meyer

450 Ft and 650 ft

Transatlantic communication

Military Structures along Columbia Pike

PENTAGON

Construction completed in 1943

Dramatic impact of the East End of Columbia Turnpike

Military Structures along Columbia Pike

PENTAGON’S IMPACT

Military Structures along Columbia Pike

PENTAGON’S IMPACT

Construction of Garden Apartments

FILLMORE GARDEN APARTMENTS

Garden cityPlanning: 1-3 story structures

Low-density superblock

Separation of automobiles and pedestrians

Common landscaped exterior spaces

Columbia Turnpike