The Washington times., 1917-03-23
KEY BRIDGE PLANS
AREREADY ATLAST
All Details Approved and Struc-
ture May Be Completed
in 1919.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

ned Instead, the approach will
curve into NJ street at Thirty-fourth
at the width of the bridge roadway.
The Rosslyn approach will not be
carried direct to the Military and
Cherrydale roads, but will stop on
grade at Canal street. leaving the
two sharp turns in the road, which
were to have been eliminated.
Actual working operations on the
bridge are really under way. An en-
gineer's construction office has been
located, and the work on the George
town abutment laid out.
It is the expectation of Colonel
Flagler that the four big piers and
two abutments will be brought above
high water during the summer. II
this can be done, the work will not
be impeded by ice or high water, and
the working season of 1918 will see
the bridge proper completed, except
for the approaches, finishing off, and
laying of the roadway. These feat
ures are expected to run the work
over to 1919.
No Speed Limit.
The bridge as planned will have q
roadway, or rather a road-bed, so
substantial that speed restrictions,
even on the big interurban cars II
will carry, will be unnecessary. II
will accommodate the heaviest con-
ceivable traffic without vibration.
The roadways on the bridge will be OF
crushed stone with tarvia treatment,
the same as the surface now employed
on the Conduit road. according to pres
ent plans.
Double car tracks will be laid down
the center of the bridge. taking out
twenty-four feet OF space. This includes
the full clearance OF the eleven-foot
wide cars of the Old Dominion Com
pany. On each side will be a thirteen
foot roadway for vehicular traffic. This
Ii sufficient to afford close" passing
room in either roadway, each one being
bnly two feet narrower than the Conduit
toad, and most Of the Maryland Stale
roads. There will be ample space for
passing, without taking to the car
tracks.
Seven Foot Sidewalk.
On each side of the bridge there will
be a seven-foot sidewalk for pedestrians.
A two-foot parapet on each side carries
tho width to sixty-eight feet over all.
The bridge is to be built entirely Of
REINFORCED concrete. 1t will be higher
than the present Aqueduct structure,
but not as high as the structures called
for in the original designs.
The center span, which is to be 3OS
feet wide, will have a clearance at the
center OF seventy feet above mean low
water. This is regarded as ample head
way and is greater than that Of the
AQueduct structure
The roadway in the center will be
nearly ninety feet above mean low
water The center will be the highest
point in the roadway.
The bridge will slope down toward
Georgetown and Rosslyn on per cent
grade. -
This center elevation is given for
better drainage and for appearance.
A level bridge, so high ABOVE the wa
ter would give the appearance, Colonel
Flagler states, of sagging in the cen
ter. The 1 per cent graae will make
it look level
Other Grades.
The RossIyn approach will continue
down at a l per cent grade to Canal
street. The Georgetown approach,
however, will slope up at a 2 per cent
grade, from above the shore abutment
TO NJ street. This grade is scarcely
sufficient to be noticeable in hauling.
The bridge proper will strike the
Georgetown shore at the foot OF Thir-
ty-fifth street. The Rosslyn end has
been moved slightly to the west, so
that ii will run straight through the
present passenger station of the
Washington and Virginia Railway,
which operates to Fort Myer, Arling-
ton, Ballston, and Falls Church, in
stead of going to the east of it. This
will necessitate moving the station
back to Canal street. Moving, how
ever, will not be necessary until work
on abutments and piers Is well under
way. Relocation of the bridge ends
cut down the cost somewhat.
on the Georgetown approach a wide
swinging curve begins at the waters
edge at the foot of Thirty-fifth street
and comes out on NJ street almost on
the west line of Thirty-fourth.
Condemnation Needed.
Condemnation of land for this ap-
proach is necessary. Only enough will
be taken, however, TO carry the ap-
proach embankment
At the instance OF Colonel FlagIer
and on request of Secretary Baker,
the Department of Justice has drawn