The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-31
BIG BRIDGE
Melan Span Not To Be Used
Remainder of Week.
Paving Company on JOb-Use
Upper-LOWer Bridges.

Melan bridge. across the Kaw river
on Kansas avenue. will be closed Fri
day morning in order to pave the south
end, Commissioner w. S. Hancock an
nounced today. If the weather per-
mits the work should be completed in
three or four days. he said
The announcement was first made
that the bridge would be closed at 8
O'Clock Wednesday morning. but late
this afternoon it was decided to post
pone action to accommodate the
wholesale merchants. Tomorrow and
Thursday are their busiest days in the
week, it was explained. As they had
not received notice that the bridge
would be closed it was decided to wait
until Friday morning to give them
time to make arrangements for the
several days that traffic between the
north and south side must be cut off.
Melan bridge. crossing the river on
Kansas avenue. will be closed at 8
o'clock Wednesday morning in order
to pave the south half of the structure,
1t was announced today by W. S. Han
cock. city commissioner. Unless bad
weather interferes the work should be
completed in three or four days, Han
cock said.
After o'clock Friday morning
the only means of reaching the North
side will be by street car, or by going
| to the brick-yard bridge west of the
water plant. or by going to the Sardou
avenue bridge north of the Santa Fe
shops. Mail probably will be car
ried across by the street railway
company. The fire department alone
will have the right of way across the
bridge.
lack of Materials Delayed Work.
The street department was held up
| in fc
pair operations because of inability to
| obtain materials. In order to reinforce
the sidewalk across the bridge it was
necessary to have the Southwestern
Bell Telephone company remove its
| conduits to the other side. This had
to be done by ordinance. The tele-
phone company's operations were then
! held up for some time on account of
| lack of materials. Now both parties
| concerned have obtained the material Is
| to proceed and will rush the work to
| completion, it was stated. The Kaw
| Paving company, to which the paving
contract was let, has been holding a
| full force of idle men in the city for
| several days.
While the closing of the bridge
probably for the remainder of the
week. will work a considerable hard
ship upon merchants and residents on
both sides of the river, it is hoped this
can be tolerated in view of the i'm
/
paving on the bridge is in a rough
worn and dangerous condition.
May Work Mt Night.
Commissioner Hancock stated that
two shifts of men will be employed in
the work and that possibly a night
shift will be used in order to hasten
the repairs. 1t is expected that all the
old pavement will be torn out tomor-
ROW. Because of numerous repairs
during the last few years the asphalt
on the rock base is in some places nine
Inches thick. This will all be torn
out and a new base laid, which will
be covered with asphalt. The south
lapproach to the bridge also will be
lrepaved.
Hancock said the nature of the work
would not permit the paving of one
side at a time, thus eliminating the
Necessity of closing the bridge. Or
the north side repairs only will be
necessary and the bridge will not be
closed when the work is begun
A squad of police will be stationed
at the approaches of the bridge TO pre-
vent anyone from crossing and a legal
notice to the effect that the bridge i.
CLOSED will be published in the daily
PAPERS