Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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
