The Washington herald., 1910-04-05
WILL AVOID GRADES
Southern Makes Big Changes
at Lynchburg, Va.
BRIDGE, TRACKS, AND TUNNEL
New Line Passes Through Western
Portion of City High Above James
River-ImprOvemen VIII Be of
Great Benefit to Through Traffic.
Ready by October L.

Lynchburg, Va, April 4--One OF the
biggest pieces of railroad improvement
in Virginia is nearing COM
pletion here. II is the construction by
the Southern Railway Company OF a
seven-mle double track line through this
city. TO attain which il was necessary TO
dig a tunnel 1900 feet long. largely
through solid rock. and construct a steel
bridge 1850 feet in length and towering
$50 feet above the waters of the James
River
This work, which means an entire
change of the main line OF the Southern
from Winesap. north OF this city. 20
Durmid on the south. will involve an ex-
penditure Of $2.O00000, and will include,
besides the digging OF the tunnel. the
building Of the bridge and the heavy
grading necessary, the erection Of a hand
some new passenger station and the
building Of a viaduct TO span the railway
tracks at Fifth street. one Of the most
important thoroughfares Of the city.
VIII Give Better Service.
The completion or this notable piece Of
work viii result in better service for
every WD4-AA on tue C0LNAAViff - =+@til- Al
the present time every freight and pas
senger train on the main line of the
Southern. north and south bound. has 10
climb a heavy grade going out of Lynch
burg on account OF the drop practically
to the rivers edge to cross the bridge
now in use. When the new line IS COM
pleted trains viii pass through Lynch
burg without having to climb a grade
exceeding forty feet per mile. which VIII
greatly facilitate the moving OF the
freight on the main line. and hence bene-
fit every point on the lines Of the South
ern Railway.
Instead Of crossing the James River at
the foot of the hills and passing through
a restricted section on the east side of
the city, the line will run through the
western portion of the city on a much
higher plane, avoiding the heavy
grade. which is now such an obstacle
to through traffic. The local freight
terminals now in use will remain as at
present, but the passenger station. 10
Gated much higher and in the western
part Of the city will be more convenient.
Bridge Nenrs Completion.
The last piers for the bridge are now
being completed. and gangs Of bridge
workers are engaged in putting the
Orders in place, About one-third Of the
bridge has been completed. and work on
the remainder is being rushed. in order
that materials for the concrete work in
the tunnel may be taken by train to the
northern end. From lower Lynchburg
this bridge viii present a magnificent
sight. and it will be one of the country's
notable railroad structures.
IN the tunnel alone, which will be one
of the finest specimens of work of this
character to be found in the country, $50
men are at work, and greater Roadway
is being made than at any time since
the gigantic task was undertaken. Ex-
cellent progress is being made. Materials
are being hauled by train to the southern
end, and the same viii be done at the
northern end as soon as the bridge is
completed.
It is confidently expected that all of
this work will be completed in time
for trains by October /