Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-14
RIVER STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
The Ogeechee Canal Bridge to be Opened
for Travel in About Ten Days.

The Ogeechee Canal Bridge to be Opened
for Travel in About Ten Days.
The new bridge in course Of construc-
ton by the Central railroad across the
Ogeechee canal, at the head Of River
street, ana to which reference was made
In the News yesterday, is rapidly APP
preaching completion.
Work was begun about six weeks ago,
by the removal Of the wooden bridge
which spanned the canal at that
point. The new bridge is of iron.
40 feet long and 80 feet wide.
resting on two massive abutments of
brick; the walls, three in num-
bera are about six feet thick at the founda-
ton, and have been erected to such
height as to assure the stills of the bridge
clear elevation OF en- feet above the
highest surface level Of the water. These
rest upon pilings driven close together TO
depth of 80 feet or more below the canal
bed, leaving water way between each
line OF the system of piling, 40 feet wide,
tor the passage OF boats. Two Golfer
dams enclosing the piles on each side Of
the waterway were also constructed.
The line Of the dams parallel with the
course OF the canal was built about 60
feet in length, and from the ends, forcing
the waterway, wings We're extended back
u
The walls Of the dams were constructed
OF piling and plank, reinforced
by filing in Of earth, which
prevented the water from encrOaching
within the area where the pilIng intended
u form the foundation + the abutments
had been driven. The piling was then
cut SO that the top of every piece should
be on the same level. Upon this level
surface or bed the work OF erecting the
abutting walls for the bridge was begun.
One wall Of the abutment facing the chan
mel Of the canal is about 90 feet long
while the other two following the in
closing wings Of the Golfer dam part OF
the way back to the canal
banks are about 40 feet long. The
was finished few days ago, and the work
OF constructing roadway embankment
leading from the two sides OF the canal up
10 the proposed bridge was commenced.
The em5ankment on the west side of
the bridge has been completed and the
wagon and railroad leading from the
wharyes and streets are finished
was placed I'm position yesterday
thus completing the span across the
canal. To-day the w0rk Of laying the
floor Will be commenced. The bridge
will be divided by three iron rails, form
ing four avenues, one 10 feet wide, two
being 20 feet wide, and one ieet wide
Tie TWO wider passage wavs will extend
across the middle of the bridge,
and will be set apart TOR draws
and carriages. TIE l5-toot passage wall
be laid with a track and the iiye-foot pass
age Will be used by foot passengers. AS
soon as this portion Of the work is finished
the work Of throwing up roadway en-
hankmeDt from the east side Of the bridge
down RIVER street towards the Central
Cotton Press wharf viii be commenced
The grade OF the slope on this side will be
about one foot in every hundred. II is
expected that the track Will be laid on
River street 70 the Central Cotton Press
wharf and the bridge opened for travel in
about ten DAYS. The estimated cost OF
the entire IMPROVEMENT is abnnt &lh. 600.