Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-07-26
STATE BRIDGE A

The action taken by the State Highway Commission
yesterday to expedite the construction of the new bridge
spanning the Raritan river here was most encouraging. 1t
is hoped, however, that the commission will not, even for
the sake of economy which seems to be the watchword in
that department all at once, change their original plans to
such an extent that the proposed bridge will be stripped Of
several important features deemed absolutely necessary
when the span was at first proposed. In fixing the cost OF
the new span the commission at last got down to real action.
The engineers in charge of the project now have something
definite to work upon. The idea now is to erect the span
at a total cost of So, 900, 900, including the cost of the ap-
proaches on both sides of the river, which probably includes
the cost of co%ndemning property for the approaches.
To date the commission seems to have had a lot OF
trouble in getting plans drawn that will meet with the ap-
proval of the body. The concrete span, it was decided yes
terday, would be too expensive. Another plan submitted by
the engineers yesterday calling for a plate steel girder struc-
ture was also turned down by the commission in that it
would entail too great a cost. AS a result the engineers
were directed to design a span of some kind that would
not cost over SO, 900, 900 to cover the entire project. II, in
case. the engineer finds that he cannot design a bridge, so
feet wide that will include a thirty-seven foot driveway for
vehicular traffic, two trolley tracks and two foot paths for
nedestrians, he will be directed to cut down on some of the
features proposed at hearings some time ago when the
bridge was first planned. That is the question that concerns
the people of this section of the state.
As has been said before in these columns, the type OF
bridge to be erected is not of great moment if it includes the
~
accommodations mentioned above and which were approved
hv the state commission last June. Still traffic demands OF
two or three wears from now when the new span Will be
comn1eted will not allow cutting down on the size OF the
span at this time.
There is nc real cause for alarm in any action taken by
tho highway commission yesterday, however. The general
;dea seemed to be to eliminate the concrete scheme alto
aeiher. to do away with any ornamental features and TO nulid
the hest bridge possible at the lowest possible cost. That
=, = 1outo ~ tha nan a soon as DOSSlDlo was
also the opinion of the commission.
If would not be fair to say that the State highway oo"-
mission he's a natural aversion to concrete IN dlsapproVihs
Tho nlans for a bridge of that type for IT was SHOWN by
Engineer Hudson that a concrete structure would cost "uoh
more than the steel plate girder span and was done ir 'he
sake of economy, it was shown. However, II the economy
plans put into practice on the bridge were followed Il
road construction is planned, perhaps more concrete roaoS
,uor1d he huut and the money saved in this way could De
r.sd in financing the bridge rather than finding It's way lh'o
The pockets of the patent paving interests Inc Slogan
adonted for the bridge work, "the best bridge at 'he lowest
oast, could be followed to advantage when road WORK IS
attempted by the commission