New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
NEU1 BRIDGE APPROACH.
Changes an Brooklyn in Preparation
for Manhattan Structure.

The work on the new Manhattan Bridge and its
approach is beginning TO make striking changes
In the lower part of the Borough OF Brooklyn.
The most conspicuous OF these in the heart
OF the shopping and theatre district The extern
sion of Flatbush avenue will stretch for more
than half mile from it and Fulton street. 10
the terminus of the bridge. The street will
be 40 feet in width with a roadway OF eighty
feet, and there will be sidewalks twenty feet
wide. The work on the street has been begun
with the removal of the buildings between Full
ton street and De Kalb avenue. This is the
most expensive part Of the improvement. and.
for the property and buildings. has cost the
city 81 100 9;5:}.
The gap that has been opened among the
buildings along Fulton street extends from No.
5S3 to COZ. On No 5S3 to 5S1 the old Montauk
Theatre stood until d few weeks ago. The
street line through its centre. it formerly
stood It was purchased for 100000, and is
now slowly moving a site in Hudson
street. 125 feet from its original position.
There 1t will again be put TO its former use.
Most of the buildings Of the block in the way of
the street have already been RACED. No. 6OI is
only cut away in front 1t will face the extern
sion in its altered form.
Besides the theatre two other buildings Of i'm
portance affected by The construction of the
extension-Public School No. and the Church
of Our Lady of Mercy. They will be torn down.
How long ii will be before all the structures in
the Wav of the new street are RACED, no one
seems to know. Afterward problem will arise
that of transportation facilities. The city
bridge to the lines about town by an elevated
system, a surface system A subway.
all three. At Fulton street and Flatbush ave-
hue, the Fulton street and Fifth ele-
waited lines and the subway turns in the
direction Of Coney Island
Much less in evidence than the work the
extension is the construction of the bridge. The
glimpses of this from the Brooklyn Bridge
not impressive. But behind a high board fence
and crowded in among factories and other bust
ness houses. the anchorage of the structure has
been almost completed. It consists of huge
piles Of masonry. ranging from seventy to one
hundred feet in height The most important
part of II is solid block toward the city, be-
meath which the steel work is cased. 1t is 20
feet high, $50 feet wide and about 100 feet
deep It extends underground for twenty-five
feet The steeiWork rises from this over an
archway to meet the cables of the bridge, which
viii be suspended across the river. The work
is of solid concrete. with granite facings. About
all that is still be done upon ii is to cap 1t
with the copings and the roadway, but this can
rot be undertaken until after the bridge is
thrown over the river. The anchorage is being
built by the Kosmos Engineering Company at
a cost of 81 100000 to the city. Its archway is
directly above what once the crossing of
Adams and Water streets. A few hundred
feet away in the direction of the water. the
work on the Brooklyn towers is going foreward.