The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-11
WELDON V|ADUCT
OVER THE ROANOKE
(Continued From First Pagel

Continued From First Page)
II is carried on concrete masonry, is
designed for Copper's ESQ loading. and
Is built in accordance with the At
iantic Coast Lines bridge spccinca-
lions. The line is a tangent and the
grade level throughout the steel work
with the base of rail % feet Inches
above the top of the masonry across
the river bottom, and 80 feet above
extreme high water mark. From IN.
north end southwark the steel work
IS arranged in viaduct section 5e5
ieet long OF alternate 35-foot tower.
and 20 foot intermediate spans across
me notion land: two I52-foot inch
FNeted deck truss spans across the
north branch Of tile river: ieO-foot OF
35 and 1c-foot span riaduct across
Ellis Island: two .3a-foot IA inch,
and one l2o-foot rivcted deck truss
spans across the south branch Of river.
l,lt5-toot viaduct across the bottom
lands; an Si.6-foot deck plate Sirder
across the canal, 376-foot deck
order span to the north abutment OF
the Seabonrd crossing: one 9I.t-foot
through plate girder over the Sea
board tracks; ?3S-foot of viaduct. one
eo-foot deck plate girder over First
street. and 3s3i-foot OF viaduct to the
south line OF Seconds Street Tho via
duct south OF the canal is arranged
with one 3l-foot girder on tower and
two S5-foot intermediate giYders with
single bent between
The train platform extends from the
south bank Of the canal TO the south
side of Second Street, 676 feet 1t is
fourteen feet wide. and is carried on
the track girders on one side and n
row OF posts on the other This con-
siruction is shown in one of the ac-
complaining cuts. The total weight of
the steel work is about $500 tons. 1t
vas erected throughout with derrick
car
strong Foundations.
me masonry through the town and
10 point north of tile canal was
rounded on hard, sandy clay. and the
remainder OF it. across the river bot
toms and the river piers, was carried
to rock. which was about forty feet
below the surface nj the deepest place
This was necessary, as nothing was
found above the rock that would safely
carry the load, and permanent mois.
ture was too low down to enable niles
10 be used with advantage. The river
piers and some OF the pedestals are &c
cordinGlE about sixty feet high and the
latter, on account of their height were
designed with webs connecting each
pait OF Dedestals TO secure the neces-
sary lateral stability for these piers It
was deemed advisable to connect them
together from n point ten feet below
their tops down to the foundation For
this purpose concrete web struts, rel !.
forced with old rails. were built con-
Meeting each pair of pedestals. This
method was decided upon 10 ayoid la,
expense OF building massive piers I'M
TO the top, which would have involved
a large volume of useless concrete
While the continuous pedestals would
have been sufficiently stable for the
imposed load. it wa. considered ex-
pedient to provide for the impact caused
by heavy masses Of dr. TT which might
come during heavy freihets. at which
times the water rises TO a level about
four feet below the top OF the masonry.
The reinforced webs are amply strong
to meet these conditions and their use
effected considerable saving in cost
The main body of the masonry through
out is a 135 concrete. with copings
and back walls of 1-2-4, and the total
structure contains about 1900 yards
of concrete.
The work was done under the direc-
ton of F.. 3. Plea sants, chief engineer
of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad