Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-30
COUNTY MAY USE
OLD B. & 0. BRIDGE
Levy Court Urged by Bridge Com
mittec to Make it a Traffic
Highway.

The committee having supervision of
bridges in Wilmington hundred made a
report to the Levy Court today, giving
the condition of all the bridges and max
ing recommendations. The court decided
to inspect the bridges tomorrow The
report follows;
Augustine bridge, lB. & o. over the
Brandywine. has had one coat OF red lead
and will receive another during the month
of June. III c. Clark of Delaware City
is contractor
we recommend that the bond issue of
S25.ON be sold and that q concrete floor
be laid to relieve the traffic over Wash
ington street bridge and also open up the
western section of the city TO traffic and
shorter lines To the new Lincoln Highway
via Concord pike and du Pont street,
Wilmington.
Washington street bridge has only had
the necessary repairs. which are becoming
more numerous all the time The plank
ing on this bridge is laid diagonally and IN
two LAYERS. the top layer being replaced
from time to time, but the lower layer is
entirely gone and will need replacing
during the present year or new structure
erected, Of which three plans have been
submitted to your committee.
FIRST To replace with an entire new
structure bv bond issue of the Legislature,
estimated cost, $500 900.
Second To use steel supcrstrlcturc rs
a base for concrete formation, including
piers. flooring and ratings, by bond issue
of the legislature estimated cost, $3.50,
600
Third TO make q suspension bridge
by raising the piers and supporting add
tional weight by cables ta~ East River
bridge. in New York and placing cement
floors and walks on the same
market street bridge, over the Brandy
wine. is IN good shape considering the life
of bridges. II has been rcplankcd and re-
painted during the year and all iron work
overhaulCd and braces frightened
Eleventh street bridge. which IS in
bad shape. has been overhauled new tic
rods being placed on the same, rcplankcd
and rcpainted. making II safe for travel,
notwit hstanding the bridge was never
intended for the heavy traffic which II
now has to stand The bridge house and
fences have been put IN proper shape and
painted Tho approaches have been
placed IN tirSt-ClaSS condition.
"SCvcnth street bridge is IN good shape.
planks having hecn replaced and the
bridge having been given two coats of
paint The bridge house has been repaired.
but requires painting badly, and this we
recommend he done at once: also that tho
walls supporting the approaches hc re-
paired. as they arc in had shape from ice
and storm of the past winter.
@Market street bridge over the Chris
tltna. IS IN good shape. Il having been
painted and replankcd. The bridge house
has been rented for the sum Of Sis per
month and contract signed by attorney Of
coert The house Is IN need of consider
able repairs, and the fences adjoining are
in bad shape. We recommend that SAID
house and fences be repaired and painted,
so rs To be IT moro prrscntabic shape for
the hundreds of people who use said bridge
We also recommend that the telephone
nosv in the bridge house he placed on the
bridge. as there is no communication with
the shore in case of accident TO machinery
o1.thc bridge
River Front bridge Is in excellent
condition. the approaches having been
cofnpletod with hillside brick and bitulith-
lct The sidewalks are also completed with
= fne cement walk. On the north side
y0sIr committee has graded and Sowcd
the triangle and placed paths on the south
side Of Fourth street and from the steps
on approach to Fourth street. making a
very pretty park for visitors coming into
the city, Electric bells are being Installed
for the safety Of the public We recon-
mend that the tool house. which Is under
meath the bridge, be raised on . level with
the bridge. SO that 1t can be Al all times
under the supervision of the bridge tenders.
We also recommend that two small pumps
be placed at each pit TO remove water
from the same and not allow the machIn-
cry to be clogged We would like to call
thu court s attention that the services
rendered at the bridge are such that we
have not diverted traffic for any length
of time and have had no cause to hire
boats to transport citizens across the
river All the bridge tenders have been
very efficient IN their work and obliginc
10. the travelling public
Hoping that IN making up the budget
the Levy Court viii consider our recon-
msndatfons, we remain, DC.