
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 19, 1991                   TAG: 9102190476
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

HOUSE KILLS D.C. BYPASS PROPOSAL

Heeding the warning of the state highway department, the House of Delegates has killed a proposal to promote construction of an outer bypass around Washington.

The resolution, attacked as environmentally damaging and a plum for developers, now heads to the House Appropriations Committee, where it will die because Monday was the deadline for committee action on pending legislation.

The highway department argued that studies for the measure would have been too costly and would have invited legal challenges. But the resolution's sponsor, Sen. Charles L. Waddell, D-Loudoun, said the western bypass route was backed by interest groups.

Waddell said opposition by the Virginia Department of Transportation has "set us back a few steps."

"Everyone will be at odds now, and I think grave damage has been done to our ability to get an environmentally sound road in place around the Washington area," Waddell said.

Transportation Secretary John G. Milliken said the department was concerned that the resolution ruled out some routes for a future bypass.

Highway officials said the resolution would cost at least $30 million, which Waddell denies. So far, no money is available to build a bypass, which probably would not be constructed for another 10 years.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

by CNB