Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-10
DIRECTORS
WRESTLING WITH
TRAFFIC PROBLEM
Endeavoring to Straighten Out
Congestion Resulting From
Bridge Closing.
TO HAVE DETOUR SIGNS

Three communications from the Will
minpton Chamber of Commerce, asking
for remedial measures for traffic which has
been diverted from its natural courses by
reason of the building of the new Washing
ton Bridge, were received by the Board OF
Street and Sewer Commissioners at their
meeting this morning. The first oommun-
ication read:
"In view of the approaching opening oi
the II. * q. bridge over the Brandywlne
and the desrability of divertng as much
traffic as possible over this route, would IT
not he possible to have prepared detour
signs that will direct the travelling pubic
through the city by means of this bridge,
and thus relieve the congestion to that
extent. at the Brandywine bridge at
Market street and in the conEested portion
of the city?
I'VE believe these signs, with another
at the south end of the latter bridge, direct
ing travellers To French street with pos
siblv some reference to the block on six
teenth street leading TO French street.
will greatly assist in relieving the oonges-
ton i'm the center of the city and enable
strangers To get through the city by the
best paved and least congested routes.
We trust that YOU will seriously consider
and take prompt and favorable action on
this matter"
The second letter follows.
I'VE beg to call your attention to the
fact that in all probability the y. y q.
bridge crossing the Brandywine viii be
ready for general traffic by the middle OF
September and to most respectfully urge
that your board take such action as -
necessary to have the streets approaching
a. 4 l. ns4I eFt4tth
sides in the best condition possible for
travel by that time,
Failure to have the streets resurfaced
will 20 a very considerable extent initiate
against the fullest use Of the bridge by the
travelling public and to that extent defeat
the purpose which this organization and
the Levy Court have sought TO accomplish
bv having this bridge put in shape 20 re-
lieve the congestion at the Market street
bridge
In the third communication the Cham
Der Of Commerce made Suggestions as
follows.
"ou attention has been frequently
called recently 10 the very bad condition
Of the surface of Market street, between
the Brandywino Bridge and Twenty-thirsi
street, and we have been requested to
take the matter mp with your board to the
end that some Improvement might be
made.
With the closing Of the Washington
street bridge, q great deal Of additional
traffic will he thrown over this street
and strangers entering and leaving the
city hy this route arc given very bad I'm
preston Of our city, due TO the condition oi
these few blocks
'We realize the impossibilty at thus
time of permanent improving this street
but would urge upon YOU the desmahiiltN
Of filling up the holes and giving the street
"A top dressing of some material that VIII,
temporarily, nj least, put the street IN
fair condition until such time as pern1a-
nent Job can he made. .
President johnson of the board said
that the Chamber Of Commerce might he
assured that the board anticipated having
the approaches to the Brandywine Bridge
ready in time for the expected opening
September 10.
Street Commissioner pierson made the
statement that his department had al
ready acted to put into effect mot OF the
traffic improvements suggested by the
Chamber of Commerce and that detouI
signs were being prepared and would soon
be placed.
VAN BuREN BRIDGE TEMPORARILY CLOSED
The Van Buren, street bridge over the
Brandywine has been closed temporarily
for repairs to the roadway. The closing
of this bridge, while the Washington
Bridge is under construction, and the
h. & O. bridge is not ready for traffic, Is
causing much inconvenience to the travel
ing public Market street bridge at
present is carrying the traffic which would
naturally pass over the Van Buren, street
structure. The Street and Sewer Depart
ment assures the public that the repairs to
the road on the Van Buren street bridge
will not take long and it will be open as
quickly as possible.
ACTION BY LEVY COURT.
The Levy Court today referred TO the
committee Of the whole a communication
from the Washington Street Bridge
Commission, recommending the erection
of a foot bridge over the Brandywne al
West street for use while the new Wash
ington bridge is being constructed, Fol
lowing comments by President Elliott
and Commissioner Ward. the court re
ferred to the bridge committee the ques
ton of relieving congestion of traffic owe
n