The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-09-13
CONCRETE BRIDGE
 0PEN..T0 PUBLIC
CITY ACCEPTS BOULEVARD BRIDGE-oNE OF THE FINEST IN ARIZONA OBSTRUCTION REQUIRED ONE YEAR.

The city's new concrete bridge is now complete. Last week the city Council formally accepted from the contractors the splendid new railroad boulevard bridge, which connects South Clifton with the rest of the city.
 This splendid causeway was con- structed by the Midland Bridge com pany of Kansas City, who commenc- ed work of this structure in Septem- Der, 1917, and practically one year was required to throw this span across San Francisco river. But it is peach, and all Clifton is delighted by having one of the finest bridges to be found in the entire state.
 The Boulevard bridge is construct ed of reinforced concrete, has a twenty foot roadway, with five foot footway on either side. The bridge is three hundred and fifty feet long, exclusive of the approaches, and is built in four sections. Each section i, is independent of the remainder of the structure, and should disaster overtake it there is no reason why any part except the one span should sustain even the slight damage. But those who watched the construction of this splendid causeway cannot conceive how it could be damaged, though it is known that the San Francisco is capable of wrecking | most anything that is in it's path when it is at its worst. But there is such an immense weight, and every part is so reinforced with steel, that 1 it is inconceivable how even such a 1 turbulent stream as this river is known to be, can causes the slightest damage. Each of the four spans rest upon piers of reinforced concrete, which below the bed of the river. Reinforc- ed concrete arches support each span, and besides making it one of the strongest and most substantial cause ways in Arizona, is also one of the most attractive.
 At each entrance is placed two large arc lights, and in the centre are two others, making six lights to light pedestrians and vehicles along it's en- tire length.
 The foot way on either side is five | feet wide, and protected on the outer side by high concrete ballisters, of | forty nine panels to the side, of seven ballisters to the panel. The bal listers, like the rest of the structure is solid concrete the entire length of each span, but disconnected where the spans terminate.
 The bridge contains 1900 cubic yards of concrete, and the entire weight of the superstructure is 1900 tons. The Midland Bridge company designed this causeway, and the spcei fications were written by City Engf construction.
 The original contract called for the completion of this bridge on July 4th, but owing to unforeseen difficult ties this was impossible, and the con tractors were granted further time and the formal completion and accep tance of the bridge was deferred un til September 1.
 Approximate Cost $4ay0oo
 The original contract price of the bridge was $42,000, but extras approx imating $500 was added to the ori ginal cost. In addition to this the fills were made at cost of about $3,000, retaining wall put in on the south side at cost of $40, and the electric lights, wiring, etc., will approximate $750 additional. But il I is worth the money and then some.
 City Marshal John Young was the first to drive car over this cause way. coming across when the work tmen were not looking, and before the fills were finished.
 All vehicles are going that way now when their destination is on the jsouth side, and few are seen travel ling the mountain driveway on the East Side. The new boulevard will lbecome more popular as time passes land the East Side be less travelled ,Plans are under way to improve tht
 boulevard between the passenger sta
 tion and the bridge, and efforts will
 be made to induce the railroad com pany to remove the tool house neal : the crossing just south of the sta tion. This will greatly improve thi
 street. as it is in reality menace t.
 the lives of the people who trave
 along this popular driveway. In iron of the Brutinel apartments the stree lis widened by an extensive fill nea