The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-12
AVONDALE
BRIDGE IS
USELESS
So That. Il Won't
Close All the Way. LeaV-
ing No Driveway.

For the past ten days the new Avon
dale bridge over the Passaic River con-
Meeting Nutley in Essex County with
Lyndhurst in Bergen County, has been
impossible for teams owing to the
big span being only three-fourths
closed. It is TANNED and the freehold
ers of the two counties are at odds over
the cost of repairing it so that 1t will
CLOSE properly. While they are arguing
over the matter, the drivers who have
occasion to use the bridge n n use
it for their teams, and they are red
hot under the collar over the situa-
ton.
The bridge, since it was built, in 1904, has
never been In good working order, 1t is
said, and ten days ago, when the bridge
tenders attempted to close 1t after q
severe rainstorm the draw was caught
when threeAquarters closed. leaving only
about three fet space for pedestrians. The
swelling of the wooden Belgian blocks
that form the floor of the bridge and the
approaches, the contractors failing to
allow sufficient space at both ends of the
draw for expansion.
Bridgetender Henry johnson told ar
EVENING STAR representative today
that a representative Of the New Jersey
DIIQBG &OHSLkuCllOH SODlpdIyg Tie urn
hat built the structure, had inspected the
bridge and declared that it could be re-
paired for $500. All that was required, he
claimed, was to remove one row of the
blocks at the ends of the approaches and
protect them with iron laps.
Tho situation was brought to the atten-
ton of Chairman John Kehoe, of the Ber-
gen County bridge committee, who resides
the bridge and a conference was held
over the matter a few days ago.
The Essex County engineer stated at
that time" said the chairman. THAT it
would take. $1,000 TO do the work.
'"rhe chairman said that If that was all
1t would cost he believed his committee
was willing to go ahead with the work.
But the Essex engineer would not fix
a definite sum-" said Mr.. Kehoe. I'VE are
in favor of settling on a certain sum or
advertise for bids. but the Essex County
ocn mittee are not Agreeable to either sug-
gestion. When I visited the bridge and
saw the condition / ordered it kept closed
until repairs are made. I am aware of the
serious Inconvenience it is TO people who
wish to reach >either side of the river, but
l claim it's up TO the Essex County OFF,
Gals.
81 realize, further, that the bridge is of
little value to Essex County at that, for it
is used a great deal less today than it was
twenty years ago, which may account for
their apathy"
William H. Rogers, a member of the
Democratic County Committee, who resides
near the bridge, said today that 1t was
outrageous to him that the people hould
be shouldered with a 100000 bridge and
cannot have any use Of it.
1T means a serious handicap to BUSH
ness interests" he said, ''as 1t is the only
bridge between the Belleville bridge and
the Rutherford avenue bridge, a. distance
of. nearly four miles" s
~ costs to operate the bridge, for salaries
of four tenders and allowance for minor
repairs, $500. Samuel Monica and Ed
ward Donnelly are the Essex tenders and
Henry Johnson and John Leach represent
Bergen County in hat capacity. at $40 a
year salary each.