The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-21
EAST SIDE BORE
A GIGANTIC JOB
Detailed Specifications OF the Consolidated Railroads Tunnel En-
terprse, For Which Competing Contractors Will Submit
Their Bids to the Engineering Department at Early Date

The contractors invited to submit bids
for the railroad tunnel through the East
Side hill are expected here this week
The specifications are accompanied by
five plans showing the alignment sec
tion OF the completed tunnel when lined,
section OF completed tunnel unlned.
Benefit street and the west portal and
Gano street and the east portal.
The contract will cover labor ana mate
rial for a double-track tunnel. It's APP
proaches refuge and other inches. portai
masonry. lining. drainage, conduits for
electric wires, reinforced concrete arch
bridges at Benefit and Gano, and an aput-
ment at the east side OF North Main
street.
The double-track roadbed is TO be COM
pleted to sub-grade ready for ballast. ties
and rails from the east side OF North
Main to the back OF the abutment on the
west harbor line OF the Seekonk river.
The length OF the tunnel between Bene-
ut and Gano will be 1850 feet; the width
UP 10 the springing line OF the arch will
be 30 feet and the height at the centre OF
opening will be "a feet inches The grade
will descend each way from n summit
1000 feet from the westerly portal at the
rate OF 25 feet per station OF 100 feet
1t is specified that all buildings west OF
Benefit street or east OF a line 300 feet
east of Ives street within the construc-
ton lines will be removed by the railroad
company.
Between these points all structures
| within or outside the location must be
preserved by the contractor, who also will
! be required to provide for street traffic
during the construction OF the bridges at
| Benefit and Gano streets.
The clause relating to drilling and blast
ing provides for municipal control and
regulation, for the employment OF expert
| enced men, for the exercise OF all possible
! care 10 prevent shattering OF the roof and
sides OF the tunnel beyond its standard
section lines. and damage and annoyance
| to adjacent property owners.
The centre cut In the heading section Is
| TO be shot in advance OF the side holes.
and charges i'm the side holes must be
| limited, to prevent shattering.
Not more than "a hours supply can be
stored at one time within the limits or
! the work, and the railway company re-
| fuses TO transport any explosives used on
the tunnel work.
The contractor must excavate aoout
two-thirds OF the tunnel from the easter
| ly end Material excavated from the east
erly approach and from the easterly part
| OF the tunnel shall be used 10 form the
/ embankment between the east portal and
/ tho bridge abutment on the west harbo,
| line OF the Seekonk river, except tha'
needed for back filing over the tunnel
| Material taken from the westerly third
| OF the tunnel Is to be placed In the EN-
| bankment between Canal and Beneh'
| streets 10 the quantity OF 10,5oO cubic
yards. The remainder estimated at 5000
| cubic yards, may be disposed OF according
to the Judgment OF the contractorthe only
! reservation being that the company us,
| the material for Its own purposes, and II
| Is TO be unioaded from barges at Harboi
Junction or deposited in cars on track
north OF Promenade street.
The contract provides that tunnel exca-
yating shall be simultaneously and con-
/ tnuously prosecuted from both ends.
4 Night and day work Sundays excepted,
! Is specified
| The bench excavation must be kept ur
10 100 feet behind the heading; the side
walls OF the tunnel lining up 10 300 feet
! behind the bench excavation. and the lin
ing OF the arch OF the tunnel up TO n
feet behind the side walls OF the tunnel
lining up 20 800 feet behind the bench ex'
cavation. and the lining Of the arch OF
the tunnel up 90 ~ feet behind the side
walls OF the tunnel lning. the object be-
ing 10 have the heading. bench excava-
tion. side walls lining and arch lining pro.
ccedng at the ssmo time.
All space between the sides and roof Of
tho tunnel and the concrete lining will be
packed with hard stone taken from the
tunnel Dirt or refuse packing will not be
accepted
Where waierproofing IL needed hve-ply