Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-25
NEW BRIDGE AND CITY PLAN

No longer will it be the county bridge then. It will be-
come the state bridge and will be maintained by the state, as it
should be.
Particular interest is centered in the construction of a
most importance.
The picture taken from the Garretson airplane, which was
reproduced in The EVENING NEWS yesterday, gives a concep-
ton of The location of the present structure. 1t would seem
that the freehoIders at the time the bridge was built picked out
the widest part of the river for the crossing. In this connec-
ton, however, it must be remembered that on the south side
of the stream the wafer is extremely shallow, the mud being
bare at low tide.
The state engineer proposes to locate the new bridge at
the narrowest point that is feasible. Evidently, from the pic
ture, This would mean moving the bridge a little farther west,
or farther up the stream from the present span.
Besides, it is hardly likely that the War Department,
which has jurisdiction over all tide water streams, would per
nit this bridge being located any nearer the railroad bridge
than it is at present.
On The south shore there is a point extending far out into
the river which would seem to be a logical location.
On The north shore, or Perth Amboy side, however, Sheri-
dan street, the present approach to the bridge, is the last street
out that extends all the way to the river. West of Sheridan
street is the Pardee property. While the state might obtain
the right of way for a new approach through The Pardee lands,
it would mean the laying out of an entirely new street.
Then, toe, most important of al, perhaps, is the fact that
property development along Sheridan street has taken place
because of the bridge and there is the trolley franchise to be
considered. The Jersey Central Traction Company has the
franchise on Sheridan street. To move the bridge elsewhere
would make the franchise useless. What would be the stand
ing of this company in the event of an entirely new approach
being made?
AS a possible solution, would it not be feasible to have the
new bridge extend from the foot of Sheridan street, as at pres
ent, but have it run diagonalIy across the river to the point Of
land as shown in the picture2 As the draw must span the chan
asket@rght angles, however, it might be possible to have a
No@tlu IN the bridge as at present, only having it curve to the
westward instead of to the east, thereby reaching the point of
land already referred to.
There are serious problems to be considered in the con-
strucion of the new bridge and Perth Amboy is vitality interest
ed. The matter ought not to be left entirely to the state with
out the city looking after her own interests in the matter.
If Perth AmbOy only had a City Plan Commission now, that
commission would make it a matter of special consideration as
to just what the effect of this bridge and its location will have
on the future development of the city.
City Plan Commission would have plans Of its own as to
the approach of the bridge on this side of the river and these
plans would be presented to the State Highway Commission
OF course, the state would have the final say as far as the
bridge and its approach are concerned, but it would without
Q doubt give the city a fair hearing and f it could be impressed
with the city's argument as to just where the approach on the
north shore should be, that is where the bridge would be To-
Gated.
1t is all we'll enough to rejoice over the construction of a
new steel bridge. There is no doubt abouti being a great ad-
vantage to the city. But Perth Amboy must not take up all her
time in praise of the new structure only to wake up five or ten
years from now to find that the development of a large section
Of the city has been greatly handicapped by the location of the
north approach, which handicap might have been entirely elm
mated had the city been on the job when the approach was be-
mig selected.
We have every confidence in State Highway Engineer
Thompson who has charge Of the new bridge proposition for
the state. There is much satisfaction in his statement that ow-
ing to the greatness of this undertaking it is a case of max
ing haste slowly"
This is as it should be. A new steel and concrete bridge
will be a permanent structure-as permanent as any bridge
can be built at the present time. Once erected it cannot be
changed for many years to come. For this reason we must be
sure it is right before the final step is taken.
We cannot urge too strongly upon Perth Amboy the ap-
pointment Of a City Plan Commission to consider this project,
among many others that vitality affect the future development
of the city, while there is yet time to carefully consider Perth
Amboys interests.
We welcome the new bridge, and particularly the relief
that comes to the city and county by having the present struc-
ture taken over by the state at this time. But there is every
reason why the city should begin at once to seriously consider
the project and lay out plans of its own for the north approach,