The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-07
KING STREET BRIDGE.
NARROW CAUsEwAY on A PRtNCI-
PAL THORoUGHFARE.
Pedestrians at the Mercy of the Wheels
walks Should be Rallied
Estimated Cost.

The old complaint about the bad con-
dition of the bridge across Nuuanu
stream on King street near the depot
has been revived, and the hope that the
Government will take steps to remedy
the existing evil is freely expressed.
Persons not living in that quarter of the
city, or having business which does not
necessitate the frequent use Of the bridge
mentioned, can hardly appreciate the in
convenience and annoyance the present
arrangement is to residents of Palama
and Kalihi and people finding business
on the other side.
King street is one of the financial
thoroughfares in Honolulu, next in I'M
portance possibly to Fort street, and no
section OF it is more generally used than
the West end. Besides residents on the
West side, who suffer most perhaps, the
railroad, the Oahu Jail, Receiving sta
ton, Kamehameha schools, Bishops
Museum and other public places in that
quarter can hardly be reached except
over the King street bridge and afe dee
pendant upon this thoroughfare to reach
the city.
King street is, for the most part, sixty
feet wide, about four feet of which is
taken up by the tramway. Southeast
of Nuuanu stream it is in excellent con.
dition, or as good as circumstances will
permit. But as it approaches the bridge
it draws sharply in and is in no place on
the bridge more than thirty-six feet
wide which is supposed to accommodate
the tramway, two driveways and two
sidewalks. The sequel is that it does
not and cannot do the half of it.
The bridge itself in place Of being of
steel, as its conspicuous position and
use require, is made Of wood and this of
a very indifferent character. 1t would
be like pile of timber in event Of fire,
and is continuously threatening to col
lapse. Its pillars are of stone and are
solid, which perhaps accounts for the
fact that the structure has not floated
off before now.
In the centIe of the bridge the tram.
way is laid on which the cars go jolting
and humping along. On the mauka
side is an excuse for walk made of
rough plank, raised eighteen inches
above the street, but almost inaccessible
on account of the holes in the roadway
at either end. Fortunately there is a
slender railing protecting the walk
which prevents persons, who are brave
enough to walk upon it, from tumbling
into the water.
Makai the walk inclines fully sixteen
feet at the bridge. Here another railing
appears which is a jewel OF its kind.
But no walk is there. Not plank, no
stone, no curbing, and, in fact, not even
q little raised earth is to be found to de-
signate the route for pedestrians from
the beaten track of vehicles. So narrow
is the space just there and so hemmed
is the footwalk by the requirements OF
trade that, in case OF a runaway, the
person caught upon the bridge would
have the choice between losing his life
and jumping into the creek.
This is where the chief annoyance
and danger comes in. No one can feel
safe upon the bridge and must keep an
eye on both ends of the road, while
crossing, to AVOID a serious accident.
Women and childien are constantly
upon the causeway, and would, in
such circumstances find themselves
perfectly helpless. What is required is
simply that the thoroughfare at that
point be made sixty feet in width. This
can only be accomplished by widening
the bridge about twenty feet and max.
ing it absolutely safe and durable. The
next point is to extend the sidewalks
straight across the bridge, the material
used being of an indestructible charac-
ter. The walks should lie well protected
by strong ratings and kept separate
from the regular drives.
1t is estimated that the improvements
could be made for $500, condition
which would be worth thousands to
persons having t, use the bridge.