Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-26
Traffic on Calvert Street
Bridge Seriously Impeded.
GANGS OF WORKMEN THERE
Other Changes to Structure Recently
Patched at Cost Of $c5, 900.
ROADWAY TO BE NARROWED
Changes Based on Report Of Penn
sylvania Railway Engineer.
Citizens Want New Bridge.

The work of narrowing the roadway Of
the Calvert Street Bridge, on which the
Commissioners of the District of Column
bia have already spent 5000 for PATCH
ing, has begun, tanning traffic to the
center of the bridge, and giving the
people who use the structure the idea
that 1t is not a wise plan to use it while
the work Is going on. The sidewalk of
the bridge. which has hung like an un-
supported bracket several hundred feet
above Rock creek. is being eliminated
and the entire structure narrowed by
ten feet eight inches. For two months,
it is expected. traffic across this i'm
portant thoroughfare will be subjected
to6he Inconvenience caused by gangs Of
workmen engaged In narrowing the
passageway at a cost of $500.
Residents of Connecticut avenue ex-
tended who have been nervous about the
bridge for long time, even with the
ive-thousand- dollar repair job
completed, are beginning to believe il
would be good idea to boycott the
bridge ON account of the Inconvenience
and this idea, they say, is aided by their
own suspicion that the bridge isn't any
too safe anyhow.
The work started on the structure is
in line with the recommendation of H.
r. Leonard, engineer of bridges of the
Pennsylvania railroad. The plans for
by T. {. j. Baily, District engineer Of
bridges.
Mr.. Leonard's Recommendations.
In his report, following an investiga-
ton of the condition of the bridge,
which he made by direction Of the Com
missioners, Mr.. Leonard recommended
that the width of the roadway be re-
duced from thirty-nif1e to twenty-six
feet. so that traffic would be brought
entirely within the trusses.
The Commissioners, 1t is said, decided
that it would not be necessary to go to
this extreme. for the present, at least,
in order to make the bridge as safe as
to remove the overhanging brackets
and lay new floor is in line with the
Leonard recommendations.
The removal of the overhanging
brackets will entail a cost. it is es-
timated, of about S1.5O0, while the new
floor, which is to have a smooth surface
and a thickness of three inches, will
bring the total cost of the improve
ments up to $500.
The Leonard report recommended
that the bridge should have floor OF
double thickness. 1t is said this recon-
mendation also will be carried out If the
District appropriation bill. which carries
an item Of $4,000 for improvements TO
Calvert Street bridge, becomes law. The
present improvements are to be PAID
for out Of the appropriation for the
construction and maintenance OF
bridges for the current year.
Rock Creek Bridge Plans Changed.
The Commissioners plans regarding
Rock Creek bridge underwent drastic
changes following the receipt of the
Leonard report. In their estimates for
the fiscal year 1913 the District heads
included an item Of $4,000 with which
to have plans made for a new bridge.
While their estimates were being con-
sidered by the House appropriations COM
mittee the Commissioners were presented
with the Leonard report, which Indicated
that number of improvements to the
Calvert Street bridge are necessary il
that structure is to be made entirely
safe.
The situation was explained by the
Commissioners ID the appropriations COM
mittee, it is understood, with the result
that the item for preliminary plans for
a new structure was stricken out. while
the amount Of $4,000 for repairs to Cal
vert Street bridge was tackled on to the
appropriation for the construction and
maintenance of bridges. The appropria-
ton later was approved by the House.
The plan to reduce the width of the
roadway from thirty-nine to thirty-five
feet rather than from thirty-nine to
twenty-six feet. as recommended by Mr..
solution of the problem, in the opinion
of the Commissioners. To have author
lied the full reduction recommended
would have been to have seriously affect
ed traffic. they believe, whereas, in their
opinion, the five-foot reduction will have
but little effect in this respect and the
structure will be as safe as IL the traffic
was brought entirely within the trusses.
Not Regarded as Serious.
While the removal of the overhanging
brackets will result in a considerable re-
duction in the width Of the sidewalks, the
traffic over the bridge Is not sufficient to
make the narrower width OF serious OBJ
lection.
r. c. j. Bailey. engineer of bridges, to-
day said he believed the improvements
under way not only will make the bridge
safer, but that they will tend to remove
good deal Of the vibration caused by
the passage Of street cars and vehicles
over the structure.
Notwithstanding the bridge was
strengthened with steel last fall at a cost
of $4,000, and that still other repairs
are being made. residents of Chevy Chase
and OF the sections west of Rock creek
who are anxious to have the bridge re-
placed with a new one, are planning to
ask Congress for an appropriation for
that purpose, when the District bill is
considered in the Senate. It is said that
request will be made for hundred
Thousand dollar appropriation, OF which
amount not less than 100000 il to be i'm
mediately available with which to COM