Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-09
DECIDE ON LOCATION
OF BRIDGE HERE; need
new span At kEYP0RT
New State Structure to be
Built West of Present Span
State Highway Board Says
WILL COST S2,70O,000
Commission Decides to Build
New Bridge on Route No. 4
Over the MataWan Creek
BY Special Correspondent.

BY Special Correspondent.
TRENTON. Dec. 9-The State
Highway Commission at its meeting
here yesterday announced that 1t had
definitely decided upon the location
of the new bridge over The Raritan
river connecting Perth Amboy and
South Amboy, and estimated the cost
of construction at s2,70e 900. The
rev bridge will be built west of the
present wooden structure. the work
of sounding having been under way
for several months in order that the
nature of the bottom across the river
at this point might be determined.
The present wooden structure,
which was taken over by the state
from the county of Middlesex last
year as part of route No. 4, of the
state highway system. will be used
for traffic while the new bridge Is
being built. 1t has been estimated
that two years will be required fn
which to complete the new bridge.
1t has been decided by the CONF
mission to build new bridge on the
site of the present Matawan Creek
structure, on route No. 4. This
bridge is located at Keyport and will
cost s225,000 to replace.
The state highway commission,
upon the recommendation of Thom-
as j. Wasser. highway engineer, has
decided to close the two prison labor
road camps located, respectively, at
Budds' Lake and West Portal, in
North Jersey. for the winter, with
the understanding that unless a min
imum of 100 men is supplied for
each camp to be opened in 1921, use
of prisoners in the building of the
state highway system will be aban-
doned and all free labor, so-called,
engaged.
Mr.. Wasser advised the commits
sion that the convict labor Is not as
efficient as free labor. that the work
has been delayed for months, and
there has been no progress which
would make itself apparent to the
public. Col. Walter f. Whittemore,
member of the highway board, res
ported that he had made an fnva
tigation of the question and was nor
satisfied with the results considering
the expenditure involved. Therefore.
he thought the only question before
the commission was whether the
work benefited the prisoners pl1ysic-
ally and psychologically.
ANY experienced contractor
would say that the road camp or
ganization is inefficient" remarked
Whittemore. Il think the men had
better be returned to their keepers"
Highway Engineer Wasser and
Construction Engineer Bidwell Of
the highway department will next
week attend the highway conven-
ton in Washington and during the
formers absence, Assistant State
Highway Engineer Edward z. Reed
will be acting highway engineer.
The Hudson county authorities
have been given an advance on their
allotment of the motor vehicle
moneys for 1921 to the extent of
$4,000 for the use on the Hudson
county boulevard. The commission
expects to make the general appor-
tionment of motor vehicle funds for
1921 at its meeting next week.
Plainfield has been given permis-
sion to pave Route No. of the
highway system through that mu-
nicipality with block. The state Is
to pay a certain portion of the to-
tai cost.
The resurfacing with bituminous
concrete of Route No. through
Allenhurst and Deal, Monmouth
county. as authorized November II
has been completed.