Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-15
WANT TINE EXTENDED
For Completion Of Proposed
Highway Bridge
ACROSS THE POTOMAC
SECRETARY BOOT APPROVES
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
Asks Congress to Make Time Limit
for Completion of Structure
February 12, 1906.

Secretary Root has approved the plans
and specifications for the highway bridge
across the Potomac. and today sent letter
to Congress asking fhat the time for the
completion of the bridge be extended to
February II. 1906. The limit of time for the
completion of the structure fixed by exist
ing law is February Il. 1906 The officials
of the department have concluded that the
interests Of the government will be better
subserved. however, by allowing a margin
of another year within which to complete
the work
The plans and specifca tons for the bridge
were prepared by Col Charles J. Allen,
corps of engineers, after frequent consulta-
ton with General Gillespie, chief Of engi-
neers, and Colonel Mackenzie his principal
assistant, and also with Mr. D. H. Burnham
Of Chicago, member OF the commission on
the park development Of the District
Mr.. Burnham was called into consultation
at the suggestion Of Secretary Root, with a
view to having the plans for the bridge
harmonic with the general scheme for the
improvement of Potomac Park. It was
mainly at the suggestion of Mr. Burnham
that the approved plans for the bridge give
it a general elevation similar to that Of
the bridge being built by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. AS result both
bridges will have straight top chords, and
line.
Site for the Bridge.
The board of engineers has selected site
about 1850 feet above the existing Long
bridge and on line parallel with the new
railroad bridge now under construction. The
highway bridge will extend from Potomac
Park. on the northeast shore of the river
to point 260 feet from Alexander's Island
the south west shore VI no no
width, at ordinary high tide, of the river
at the proposed site is 2S26 feet and the
existing depths at low tide range from %
feet on the shore near Potomac Park to % 6
feet in the dredged channel.
The present specifications relate only to
the bridge over the main river consisting
OF two abutments, twelve piers and the
spans connecting the same; they do not in
clude the shore approaches. which will be
given thorough consideration later.
The highway bridge will be a steel truss
bridge, consisting Of eleven fixed spans of
PIG feet each, from center to center Of
piers. or 211.5 feet from center to center of
end pins, and one swing span 200 feet in
length, supported by twelve piers and two
abutments of granite, and concrete ma
sonry, all with pile foundations
The bridge will have a roadway forty
feet wide between curbs,i with sheet as
phalt pavement ana two sidewalks, each
ment.
Double Railway Track.
On the roadway will be laid a double
track for an electric railway, arranged for
an overhead trolley. On the outer side Of
each sidewalk there will be an ornamental
iron or steel railing. The swing span will
be operated. by electtfc motors. and pro-
vfded with pile and timber protection
system. p
The piers supporting fixed spans are to be
eight feet wide and ffty-one feet long on
top under the coping, with a batter of one
In sixteen, and are to be provided with cut
waters Cor starlings) both up and down
stream. The first span from the Washing
ton end will extend over Potomac Park 100
feet in order to leave space for drive and
walk on the shore Of the river under the
bridge.
1t is especially required that the top
chords of all trusses, for both fixed and
swing spans, be straight and in the same
horizontal plane, except in the tower and
adjacent panels of the swing span.
The request for legislative authority to
extend the time for the completion of the
bridge to February, 1906, was based on
report made by Col. Allen and Endorsed by
Gen. Gillespie. in which the opinion was
expressed that the limit of time fixed by
existing law Is too short for the important
work in contemplation.