The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1910-12-20
Bridge Commission Reports to
Council That Congress Street
Bridge Cost Total Of $295,47
Full Text Of Report Of Labor Of Special Com
mission That Had Charge Of Construc=
ton Of Congress Street Bridge

= DAA~6S
railroad company permission was OBJ
tanned to land the west end upon their
property south of the bridge. This
| increased the length and addedma
terially to the cost of this item. The
construction, repairs and removal of
he temporary bridge in cost aggre-
gated $4,000, an increase over the
estimate of $1,000.
There was a section of the old
bridge approach opposite the United
Illuminating company works which
during the existence of the former
prloge had given some trouble on ac-
count of deep layer of soft material
underlying it. This was taken care
or In the general plans by q griliage
of piles but it was found that the
conditions further along and at the
west abutment were such as to re-
quire change from the original lans
entalllng an outlay over and above
the original estimate of little above
$4,000.
Again the proposed purchase by the
city of the Lines property at the east
approach not having been fully de-
cided' but very probable. the commits
sion decided that to carry ous the
original plan and build retaining walls
the depth of said property would
prove waste of money in the event
of the city obtaining title to the tract,
and in such event the city wouIc be
Obliged to protect the harbor front
which was in a very dilapidated con-
dftion. Engineer Stoddard was in
structed to prepare plans and speci-
LEGATIONS for this work and advertise
for proposals for an adequate sea
wall. which was done, the contract
Deing awarded to the local firm Of
Too ana Sunderlin, who were the low
est bidders. This feature cost ap-
proximately $2.40o more than the
original estimate for the work as first
contemplated
While these three changes will add
$4,000 to the aggregate cost. the
commission was assured of being able
| through a saving in other directions
to complete the project within the APP
preparation set apart for it.
Blocks From Worcester.
The paving of the roadway upon the
approaches and fixed spans has been
question of grave consideration by
the commission. Keeping in mind
the grade and the probable large in
crease of traffic the commission felt
that no pains should be spared to
make this one of the best paved thor
oughfares in the city. A COMMITTEES
consisting of NJ. w. Manwaring and
, H. E. French was sent to Worcester,
Mass, and gained valuable Informal
ton through that city's engineering
department of a pavement which they
have been constructing for many years
with very satisfactory results both
in wear and cost of maintenance This
is q granite block laid upon a concrete
base with an intervening sand cushion,
then solidly grouted in all its joints
and -afterward flushed on the surface.
VI i,y6 in,
Worcester, this comes nearer a per-
manent pave than any other system
the commission have studied. The
blocks are of a peculiar texture of
granite and were furnished under
contract by the Webb Granite Con-
structioh company of Worcester. Mass.
The balance of the material togeth-
err with the labor of laying was under
contract awarded to Contractor "A. j.
Langfeldt of Hartford, Conn.,, the
successful bidder who was also award
ed contract by the Connecticut
company for their portion.
The entire time of construction, in
| Guiding the cessation of work during
extreme cold weather will be about
one and one-half years. The COM
mission believe that for the magnitude
of the undertaking, this is not I'M
reasonable.
Since probably very few casual OBJ
servers of this construction realize the
MAGNITUDE of the work. summary
has been prepared Of the principal
materials used in building the bridge,
which is as follows. viz: 45,554 cubic
yards Of dredging; 5.151 piles, o. 104,-
PIT lineal feet; 69194 feet (board
measure) of sheet piling; timber in
grillage (yellow pine) 477,060 feet
(board measured; 4, lib cubic yards of
rip-rap. 6,67S yards of excavation;
1879 yards of granite masonry; $4,000
cubic yards of concrete masonry steel
reinforcing rods. 25l,6S6 pounds;
structural steel, $50 S93 pounds ma
chinery 1856 pounds; CONFERENCE.-The
in lifts, 1889, 200 pounds; waterproof
ing, $4,000 square feet; 5000 cubic
yards of filling; creosoted yellow pine
timber. So 600 feet (board meaolre);
creosott pavement, $500 square teet;
reinforced concrete rail. 1850 iinea1
feet: structural rail. ESQ lineal feet;
granoliehic sidewalks, 1874 yards;
granolithic curb, 1870 lineal feet: oak
piles in tenders, $3.50 hneal feet;
spruce timber in tenders, 1862 feet
(board measured; yellow pine timber
in tenders - feet (board meas
ureN: electrical equipment aoproxi-
mately $4,000; two operating houses.
There was Approximately 100000
feet (board measure) of yellow pine
used il the caison work.
There was about 200 piles, and
10000 feet of lumber used in false
work for arches, beside an unknown
amount for forms, etc., in the lump
sum portion.
Granite paving (including Connecti-
cut company's portion) about 4,400
square yards.
Contract Provisions
The contract of the Snare and
Triest company included paving only
upon the draw span, and their portion
of the work was practically concluded
in June, and on the date of July IL
1910, Engineer Stoddard reported the
com pletiOn of their contract and filed
the final estimate on said contract
At the same meeting the bridge was
formally accepted and the bond of the
Snare and Triest company released.
The proposition to widen Congress
street between Main street and the
bridge was at this time in a chaotic
state and the Connecticut company
formally notified the commission that,
the construction of track upon the
west approach would not be COM
Dleted utnil such time as the manner
of widening should be definitel' set
led. This compelled a cessation Of
the work of paving; the shipment of
paving block was countermande1 and
the contractor upon the paving was
obliged to suspend operations.
The commission after considering
all the possibilities of the situation
voted to send a committee to wal. up
on the mayor to arrange for tenn