Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-28
CONTRACT SIGNED
FOR NEW BRIDGE
Double Track, Concrete Struc-
turc to Replace Belt Line
Steel Trestlc.
MAY SELL OLD BRIDGE TO CITY
Work Authorized to Cost $780,
000-Contract Also Signed for
Grading at New Station.

new doublc-track concrete arch bridge
OF latest design across the James River.
near tho City Iumphouse To replace
The present Belt Line Railroad Bridge.
was awarded yesterday afternoon TO
w. W. Boxicy & 90. Of Roanoke the
lowest bidders. The nov structure.
which will 10 erected Jointly by tho
Richmond. fredericksburg and Poto-
mac and the Atlantic Coast Line Rail
road Companies 10 improve thor traffic
facilities in connection with tho new
passenger station. will cost approxi-
lnatcly $4,000. Work viii bc started
at once. and tho bridge Will he COM
plctcd carly III 1919.
Tho now structure viii he located :.
short distance west Of tho present
bridge. and construction work VIII not
s Ss9nrrupt traffic over tho Belt Line.
ssich is used at this time for through
light trains and local interchange
freight between the various roads
Snc contractors ordered :, large fore"
of worlSmcn and q construction plant I"
Richmond las, night, that operations
mag be started at once.
Railroad officials said that tn. new
bridge would be Of TIA" highest stan.
'lard. and Of tho latest design known
IN railroad construction. Tho struc-
turc. which was designed 10y i. T.
C;rcincr of baltimore ono Of tho best.
known bridge cxports IN this ,oun,rv
viii he strong enough. ~ is said for
all time. Engineers Of tho two rail
roads had frs, contemplated double
tracking tho present bridge. OF build
ing nov steel structure
FOUND INADyI>ABIE TO
WIDEN OLD SYItItTI'ItI.
scv,,, .dy,r,a ,,o,,o ,.o
.,r,a 10, ,o,i i,,.t nd 49,.
rive .,I :, g., ,ourJ ir,d,is,,Llo -.
100, ,ho ola s.r,,.,,,rc 80 ,.u
tracks. With = youcrot, bridge the
railroad is constructed in tho Sau..
way that u is on TIA" Garth. ana there
Is no Jar when Inc tr"iuS rHn "n 90
or the bridge Con"id"rahl" mann
icnaucc cost through painting ct ire-
Gncnt intervals ana rus; ~ ais" saved
although the initial expenditure is
somewhat greater
The creation "' inc nc" structure 4
''''' ~
-
-" ~
'" " '''' ''""'
w 'e
"'H - 80
VICE. '"'
Negotiations however arc P'nd'nS
Tor Inc purchase OF INC ora hrihE' ny
the CITY OF llchmond' ana IN" lNrh-
mond' frcderickshHrS "n' l"'"'naS
l'a'iroan' INC owner t"S ''h"o MAJ
Is $50 10 VIC 81" 'N''''-'! ~" ~
10 'hc c''S ~ $500" az VIC "'''
n"n "., '"N''' ""' =
- '''.' ~,
-, -, ,,,u rt
CITY NM N''' '"r.
"'' "''' N''
Efforts wcr" made some weeks az"
10 reach some agreement between inc
CITY ana 'he '"o rn'" """H ~
W., .,,,,n,,,ro
such az manned bv the railroads how
have been prohibitivc
rho ~, s,ruc,urc :, WAC stared
would ,e c,,,ircIy ADEQUATE for the
uees m which IL would he nlaccd h..
the ci,v roadbcd could easily be
hull, in placc of the present tracks.
and II Is of such strength that street
cars could readily he routed across it,
Unless il is acquired by the city. il
will be torn down by the Richmond.
Frederick sburS and Potomac Railroad.
but such action VIII not he taken Tor
eighteen months or TWO years,
The new concrete bridgc VIII pe
about zoo rect long, ana the railroad
tracks VIII be about ninety iec' over
the water. or about the same hc!Sht
as the present bridge IT is designed
10 last for all time ana VIII he ouii'
OF such strength as 10 hahdie Inc iohS
est possible trains Railroad ofhc'als.
however, assert that prcSeht-daE loco-
motives are about as large as thcE "e-
lieve practicable aud chat trans or any
greater length than now operated
would become unwieldy.
WILL HANDLE PASSENGER
TRAINS FuoN NEW tfNIoN STATION