The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-29
BRIDGE WORK TO
| BEGIN THIS WEEK
Signing Of Contract by Chairman
Adams Now the Only
Formally.
MACHINERY ALREADY HERE
Plans Call for Skeleton Of Steel
Covered by Massive
Concrete.
MACHINERY ALREADY HERE

Special machinery for use In con-
struction of the new Mayo Bridge has
arrived in the yards of l. j. Smith &
Company tInc.), contractors for the
work, and Will be placed in position
this week. Within the next two weeks
the bridge force will be organized and
tho wrecking of tho old structure Will
have begun. The abutments and piers
will come first. and while the old pass
ageway Will be closed to general traf,
fic as soon as the contractor takes
charge, 1t will be used for the trans
portation Of material and torn away
span by span as the work progresses
Adams to Sign Contract.
One formality has yet to be gona
through with The contract is to be
signed by William H. Adams, chairman
of the Council Committee on Streets
on behalf of the city. Although the
award to the Smith Company has been
approved by both brhnches OF the
Council. and signed by Mayor Rich
ardson, councilmanlc red tape requires
that this action be certified back TO
the Street Committee by City Clerk
Ben r. August The Street Committee
meets tonight at s o'clock. and when
the resolution adopted by the Council
is presented the committee VIII adopt
q resolution authorizing Its chairman
to execute proper contract lot lne
work. The form of this contract mas
been prepared by the City Attorney
specifying Just what is proposed. me
formaiity will be made complete By
the signatures Of Chairman ADAMS, TOT
the city. and President I. j. Smith, OF
the contracting firm. and the hling
with City Engineer Boiling OF me
bond required for the work.
Steel Being Prepared.
The detailed working drawings are
being ampllhed by the engineers. the
Concrete Steel Engineering Company
81 New York. While Contractor smith
crete into tho pier foundations. the
steel skeleton for the reinforcement
of the upper structure Will be mace
elsewhere. The regularity Of ne DC
ment is riveted together and contains
more than twice the amount OF steel
OF any other design. It IS pTactica,iy
riveted in position. around which the
concrete Is formed, making what II is
believed will be an indestruetihle
structure. which. barring eaTthauakes,
the engineers assert should last Tor a
The contract price for the bridge.
not counting approaches Is S2eii3 T.
There will be eighteen arches each
having a span OF seventy-o one feet. the
spans at either end sloping slightly to
meet the grades adopted for the APP
proaches the roadway to be five feet
higher than that OF the old bridge.
With the abutments at either end and
on either slide. OF the island. the plans
Will require sixteen piers in the river,
each OF which must be drilled into
solid rock Golfer dams Will be con-
structed and the water and mud
pumped out. laying bare the rock bed
of the river before any concrete is
poured Into the piers.
Continuous Roadway.
Seven arches connect the Richmond
shore with Mayo's Island The road
way continues on an ernba nkment at
practically a level grade across the
island. and there are eleven arches
from Mayo's island to the old Man
chester shore. The fetal length of the
bridge, from shore TO shore. counting
the Island. is l.7ol feet. The roadway
Is to he forty-four feet wide, or about
that OF Main Street. Two etEht-foot
concrete sidewalks are provided. Pro-
vision is made fcr water and gas mains
and conduits for telephone and cleo
trio light wires. The bridge Is de-
signed to carry ffty-ton electric cars,
and will have double track CONSTITUTE
ton. with Belgian block stone paving
on the roadbed.