Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-18
NEW LOCATION
DECIDED UPON
Will be About Quarter of Mile
West of Present Span Sur
vey Still Under Way.

Federal financial aid to the extent
of one million dollars has been Sc
cured by the state Highway Commits
sion, through the instrumentality ef
State Highway Engineer w G.
Thompson, for the erection of the
$2,50o,000 bridge between this city
and South Amboy it was announced
by the State Highway Commission
early this afternoon. AT the same
time it was learned from the oflces
of State Engineer Thompson that the
location for the new structure had
been definitely decided upon and that
1t would be built about one-qaarter
of mile west Of the present bridge.
The million dollar appropriation
from the government was secured
largely through the efforts of Engi-
neer Thompson, the state highway
com mission. announced, he having
appeared in person before the federal
aid appropriations committee In or
der to secure this much needed as
sistance to tho state in making possi-
BILE carrying out OF the proposed pro-
ject. The bridge is n part OF Route
of the state highway system.
The states share fthe expense
viii be about $1,500.000. The matter
of financing the building Of this bridee
has been big problem to New Jersey
ever since it took over the present
structure from the county and tho
bill Of Snator Thomas Brown was pass
ed calling for the building of a new
bridge, Preliminary surveys are stiil
being made and plans are being drawn.
The new bridge will travel over an
entirely new route from that occu-
pied by the present structure and will
go straight across the Raritan river
at its narrowest point. This will in
addition to doing away with the
curves which are In the present
structure, shorten the bridge. II viii
be of steel and concrete construction,
1t is reported.
If the site selected by the state for
Its construction is at the point about
400 yards west of the present bridge
where the South Amboy shore eX-
tends far into the river 1t wlll DO
necessary to go through part Of the
plant of the G. Pardee works. No in
formation could be secured today as
to whether the state proposed buying
this property and right of way or
whether condemnation proceedings
would have to be resorted to.
Reports as to the likely approal h
to the bridge from this city have been
to the effect that ii was the plan of
the state to make the approach
continuation OF ConVery Place.
Should this plan to mako the ap
proach a continuation OF ConVery
place go into it would moan a straight
away for automobile traffic from New
Brunswick avenue, over the Iehigh
Valley tracks and thence across the
rfven Traffic from places to the
north OF Perth Amboy would be di-
vided at New Brunswick avenue and
Amboy avenue, or at Washington
street and Anlboy avenue, so that tho
crossing OF railroads would be elimi-
mated and present traffic congestion
during jthe summer months done en-
tirely away with.
While the engineers of the state
highway department are working on
the surveys and plans for the new
bridge, the work of repairing the pres
ent structure, which was damaged by
the ice foe about two weeks ago, Is
progressing satisfactorily.
Although the high wind Is hamper
ing the speed of the contractors in
completing the work on the bridge,
temporarily, so that traffic can go
over 1t on Sunday. the contractors are
still Of the belief that one section of
the bridge with railing along il, will
be ready by Sunday so that the con~
nection between this city and South
Amboy will again be open TO traffic.
The pile driving machine which has
been driving piles for the last several
days, was not able to do Merry much
yesterday on account of the wind, and
there are about twenty-five to thirty
piles to be driven yet, to enable traffic
to use the bridge. The second pile
driver which has not done any work
at the bridge. is expected to aid the
other machine in driving piles, today
and If the wind dies down, this part of
the work should be completed by to-.
night.
The day shift worked until dark last
night. but there was no night shift.
The high wind is holding up the work
on the entire bridge. When the pile
driving is held up, this also holds up
the carpenters who are laying the
planks
The public service trolley company
had a number of men at the bridge
this morning. Work on their section
Of the bridge is being held up await
ing the arrival OF the lumber to be
used in repairing their damage. II
will take some time before the trolley
cars will be able to run over to South
Amboy again.