Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-11
NOHEAyY TRAFFIC ON
VAN buren, BRIDGE.
Water Department Delayed Re.
pairs Until Near Time for
Closing Washington Bridge.


What ON the surface seems ~ be \
case Of lack OF c6.opcration between city
and county authorities il the closing of
the Van bnrean street bridge by the
Water Department NJ time when the
Levy Court has all other bridges over
the Brandy~ine creek, west Of Market
street, closed for improvements.
As p result of this artion of the Water
Department even more traffic than wac
anticipated in planning for the erection
of the new Washington street bridge,
has been shunted to the Market street
span and the county officials expectation
that the Van Burrn street structtfs would
carc for Urge portion of the traffic over
the Brpndywine has not been realized
and from Indications will not be until
Mt least three weeks necessary 20 com
plete the proposed improvements of the
Van Buren, street bridge, have passed.
8. N Van Trump supervising engineer
of the Water Department. said this
morning the plans to strengthen the Van
Buren, street bridge were made before
the date for the closing Of the Washing
ton street bridge was difnitelv anno,Inc-
ed Az the repairs could he completed
I'm three weeks il was felt by the officials
Of the Water Department and by the
Park Commissioners, who assume one
third Of The cost of the improvements,
TINT the work could be finished by the
time traffic was cutoff over the Washing
ton street structure.
These repairs were absolutely neees-
sarv," Mr.. Van Trump said. The con-
dision Of the bridge and it's approaches
were such shat no additional traffic could
,lse them without endanserins the ~
inch water mains which are laid under
the paving and which convey the city's
principal water supply from Porter reher-
voir sn the Cool Spring basin.
CHIEFLY TO PROTECT warm MAINS
'It is well known that the bridge was
constructed originally 70 support these
mains across the Bfandvwine The plae-
ing Of the paving ON the top was an otter
thought For this reason the bridge was
not constructed along the lines which
IL would have been had it been intended
To support ao much traffic.
HIn ell events, even after the present
improvements arn completed, no very
heavy vehicles will he allowed on the
structure Trucks viii have 70 cross
elsewhere F"
Traffic on Market stree. bridge over
the Brandvwine, as was expected, has
hrnn very hraHN. FniiFF EpFeeent
Devenish, who has given traffic conditions
over that structure much of hi. personal
attention, sald this morning thst Monday
was the heaviest day for traffic there.
The Police Department he's stationed =
patruiman at each end of the bridge with
instruction 70 keep watch for speeding or
anything which might tie up traffic.
HasprIsa TRAFFIC Ar MARKET STREET.
The Levy Court expects To have men
stationed on the bridge within a few days
20 assist the police officers in their work
The commissioners regard the direction
Of traffic while on the bridge as being in
their hands and are working out plan
To cope with the situstio.n
The delay in traffic caused by tho
troleys stopping ON the north end of the
bridge 20 throw the switch located there
will soon be done away with, according
to the announcement Of the traction
company tht an automatic electric
switch will be laid 20 expedite the move
ments of the cars
Levy Court NJ Its meeting yesterday
afternoon referred 20 the bridge COM
mittee a request that q watohmnn be
employed nj the Washington street
bridge site while the new bridge IS being
built.
II also instructed County Engineer
Grubb to prepare plans and specifications
and advertise for proposals for the con
strtlction Of foot bridge across the
Brnndvwine at West street.