The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-01-05
BRIDGE TO MAKE
FINEST CROSSING
lone Of the Best on the River viii bs
Found Here When the struc-
ture 10 Entirely
Rebuilt.
APPROACHES ARE EASY
only Slight Incline viii be Neee..
sary and no Tracks Are Crossed
Fine View From the
Second Floor.


liver will be the one at Keokuk. wfer
he Keokuk and Hamilton bridge /,
completed. The bridge is beinp re
constructed into modern donble
aeck structure, the upper deck carry
ng the roadway and passenger walks
while the present level of the bridge
will carry the train traffic exclusively
The bridge when reconstructed will
be practically the high bridge which
keokuk has wanted for years. To act
hally realize this fact one must climb
bp the Orders to the second level.
The height Of the bridge is best
fealized from here, and by squirting
llong the completed floor one can real.
|ze that 1t is going to be easy of &C.
fess from both sides. On the Keokuk
|ide OF the bridge especially it dawns
Pn one that the big hill which Is now
encountered Is going to be cut out al.
most entirely and the gentle sloping
Eiaduct which will end about fifty
eet from the corner OF Second and
Main street, will reduce the grade to
Utmost nothing.
On the Hamilton side of the river
he inclined roadway will have very
light grade, the best comparison be-
hg that of the block between Main
md Blondeau on North Third street.
No Tracks to cross.
Another big feature Of the new
Ridge will be the fact that foot pas.
ngers and vehicles will not have to
oss any railroad tracks to get on
II the bridge. The viaducts on both
des take care of this, and provide
absolutely safe crossing.
The roadways on the second deck
vill be sufficiently wide to take care of
III traffic. The foot bridge will be on
he lower side Of the bridge, only. The
DOT bridge will be separated from
be wagon road by high barrier over
fe feet high. and Ave ten inch boards
I'D along substantial cross stanchions
III form this barrier. The cross
Aeces are bolted on both sides to
NeD them steady.
9u Fine View From Top.
aThrough the courtesy of John H.
ille. superintendent Of the Keokuk
I'd Hamilton bridge company, Gate
|ty man had the privilege yesterday.
n seeing the work on the upper struc-
re Of the reconstructed bridge. Ac.
Pmpanied by Howard Barnett, bridge
|feman. the trip was made to the Sec
Rfd deck of the structure. To get up
Efre 1t Is necessary to scale the steel
|lrders by means OF ladder which has
1sen constructed along the sloping
|Ide of the steel. It's all right doing
BIS sort Of elm bling If you don't look
|pwn. but one look downwards while
bu are suspended between land and
fater, and you are inclined to lose
our nerve Once on top. however,
pings look differently.
The finest OF nr timber is used
|roughout in the construction of the
ridge. This timber is piled along
he roadway Of the bridge, and the car.
enters are keeping pace with the steer
len, being only short distance be-
fnd them now. Creosote wood blocks |
phi be laid on the present floor Of the !
fcond deck, and then the roadway |
fill be complete.
Sidewalk on Lower Side.
On the lower side Of the bridge Is
be sidewalk for the pedestrians. Tho
|dewalk brackets extend out over the