New-York tribune., 1903-07-19
BRIDGE FOR FIFTH-AVE.
To Run Forty-second-st. Cars Be
meath the Surface at Crossing.
PLANS RECEIVED BY MR.. CANTOR.


Borough President Cantor received yesterday
from Wisner Martin principal assistant
gineer OF the Bureau of Highways. a report on
the project for depressing the tracks of the sur
face railway at Forty-second-st. and Fifth
ave. by making a bridge for Fifth-ave. Mr..
Martin forwarded photographs of the proposed
changes of grade and of the bridge, and said
the idea originated with Thomas Hastings. of
Carrere & Hastings the architects. He said
that he had to do with the engineering features
alone Continuing Mr.. Martin said:
Mr.. Hastings's idea is to build a handsome bridge
which will be permanent adornment of the city,
and one which will relieve to extent the
that along Fifth-ave.. is done in cities abroad,
and also to make the bridge part of the general
the new public library; On the practical side it is
of traf3c ~ tbie c e q ft M NO S T
scheme the street railway tracks will be removed
justify its adoption The rapid transit tunnel is so
deep at this point that there will be no interfer-
the present grades at this intersection permit the
proposed treatment. There is no other cOngested
intersection in the city where such scheme could
be well carried out.
and b0fh sdeyaIIe he io1,ared at Eiftba We sbo1;t
Il feet and that the surface of Fifth-ave at Forty
second-st. be raised about $40 feet. The grade OF
Fifth-ave from this point will out to the
present grade at Forty-thrd- st and at Forty
frst-st. The new grade north of Forty-second-st.
posed grade will be $40 per cent-neary the same
from the traffic point OF view. The SteepeSt
grade which exists at Fifth-aVe. is that between
Thirty-fourth and Thrty-siXth sts. where it is
little more than per cent The change of grade at
Fifth-ave. south of Fortv-second-st. will be i'm
provement on the present grade. The new grades
in Forty-second-st.. both east and west of Fifth
ave-, will be uniformly per cent, and will be
improvement the present grades as the sum-
nit existing Fifth-aVe will be cut down.
II is proposed TO lower the sidewalks to the
fronts of the buildings and to change the steps and
stoops and front walls of the buildings so as to
conform to the grade.
The bridge is to he steep. and the asphalt road
way and the sidewalks on Fifth-ave. will be carried
it at the full width that they now have. At
the three of the bridge, against the three
erected The foot of each of these staircases will
be % feet and west of the property lines on
Fifth-aVe. On the library side of Forty -Second-st
will be staircase Fifth-aVe. The re
tanning wall library grounds will extend from
the bridge westward about 225 feet here, where the
level the library grounds is only or feet above
the sidewalk level. there will be broad flight or
steps. Under the bridge and behind the granite
abutments of il, side. it is proposed TO have
a public comfort station: on the other side a news
fruit stand. In the centre of the roadway or
the centre of the bridge. also row OF columns
along each curb line of FOrty-Second-st. Forty-
seCond-st will pass under the bridge with the same
width Of roadway ard sidewalks as at present The
bridge will be handsomely ornamented with marble
standa IDS ard bronze lamps and bronze rSlhngS.
The estimate for the work complete Is S3SO,UOb
This includes the retaining wall on the south slde
OF Fortv-second-st. west of Fifth-ave., which is
part of the wall around the library GROUNDS, ana
which the city will have to build whether this
present project is authorized or not Ihls mucn -
ing the fronts of the houses on Forty, ,second-st
down 10 the new street level. including the interior
work which will be necessary and the rearra nglnS
of the stoop lines and steps of the t11th ave
houses The water and pipes and electric
conduits will be carried under the abutmentS and
under the new surface of Forty-second-st-