Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-18
ABOLISH LUMBROOK
GRADE CROSSING
3. & o. Railroad Co. to Receive
Bids Monday for Overhead
Bridge.

Tor the construction or an overhead
bridge at the Lumbrook crossing near
Newark.
An agreement between tho Levy
Court and the railroad company pro-
vides that New Castle county shall
pay one-half OF the actual cost OF con-
struction. not to exceed $4,000. This
cost will be made up Of the following
items:
/, Salaries and expenses OF engi-
ncers and craftsmen engaged directly
on this project. either preparing plans.
inspecting material or in charge OF
construction. no percent added.
2. Cost OF placing and maintaining
temporary support for railroad COM
pany traffic (b per cent will be added
except engineering. and 8 per cent for
handling to cost OF all material fur
nished directly by railroad company
8. Actual amounts paid con-
tractors for excavating, concretiug.
steel work. etc. with no percent added
other than that allowed contractors.
4. Cost Of temporary siding for con-
S per cent, material plus 3 per cent
8. Costs OF any accidents or dam
ages incident to this work.
8. A percent to be added to the
total amount OF above TO cover gem
eral expenses, as determined monthly
by comptroller, (this 10 generally
about 1.5 per cent or per cent?
The maximum amount OF s6s,00C
was the outside estimate of one-hali
the probable cost OF the construction
and the amount named by the con-
demnation commission in their return
to the Court OF General Sessions. The
agreement permits the extension OF
the period of 60 days prescribed by
law for the payment of damage,
awarded and permits the Levy Court
to benefit should there be reduction
III the actual cost OF the work below
S6S 900.
During the condemnation proceed
| inys there was much discussion re-
gardinE the location Of this undergrad,
bridge. Certain property holders II
the area desired that the crossing q
the highway and the railroad adhere
to the present location at Lumbrook
the railroad authorities insisted tina
wherever the highway and railroad
lntersected they should be at righ
angles to each other. The aim OF tn,
property holders was TO insure tha
they should retain a frontage OF thl
highway. The railroad authorities de
scribed the intersection OF tbs high
way and railroad at right angles Il
order that the undergrade brids
would be OF the shortest span and, Q
course, the lowest possible cost I
them.
From the Levy Courts point OF vie,
such an alignment In respect to IN
railroad was absolutely undesirabl,
for It introduced two dangerous acut
turns In the highway, one on eac
side Of the undergrade. OF cours,
the first and most important considera
ton in the elimination of grade cross
ings is a separation OF the levels. !
many cases. during the past, this wa
apparently the only consideration. A
that time the slow-moving hfghwa
traffic was satisfied and really accom-
modated by this one accomplishment,
today. with faster vehicles, travelin
on all highways. many Of these ol
and relatively costly crossings ar
menaces TO life with their stee
grades on, approaches. improper drair
age. short radius curves and stee
; banks either offering a pit or cuttin
off all view ahead.
County Engineer Grubb emphasize
the recent changes in the volume ar
character OF highway traffic and II
sisted that on this important nations
highway the public interests shou
not suffer. The agreement with II
railroad provides for an undergrad
crossing with n clear view of 800 fe
on each side OF the railroad, eas
grades on approaches. adequate drail
! age and an opening 40 feet wide ar
IA feet high for the roadway.
The construction of this undergra,
was delayed one year. IN addition
time required for condemnation, d,
20 the introduction of bill in the Sta
Legislature, in conflict with the r
turn Of the condemnation commissio
. This bill was approved by bo
: branches Of the Legislature. and on
upon refusal of the governor to ST,
II did the county avoid further della
Following his refusal to sign this, q
I return OF the condemnation commit
sion was confirmed late in July, 10:
by the resident judge of the Court
General Sessions. Thereupon (
agreement with the railroad was aga
: forwarded to the railroad compai
= for execution, and another hitch car
a when the county desired that the wo
h proceed at once. 30 that IL might DC
# sibly be completed during the CO
IS struction season of 1921.
In lengthy letter from the ch
/ engineer Of the railroad, the cour
,e was advised that the railroad compa
'e would not undertake this work ur
ic the spring OF 1922. primarily due
'e the possibility of the work extendi
e. into winter, with the consequent 6
u ditional costs and the heavy risk
r. volved maintaining the traffic on I
ie main line on temporary support d.
st ing the winter months.
J. The delays incident TO the proce,
ings for the whole right OF way. fr,
= Pixies Creek through Roseville
- Newark, serve TO emphasize the han
!. caps of the present County Conde
~ -. nation laws. Through these laws
n, county Is required to complete negot
tions with the property holders In I
"a before commencing construction
,e fringiDg upon their land; thus
IN county is tied and the public in gene
ne suffers while legal steps are in pr,
& ress. Under the State Condemnat
m law, following the return of
is condemnation commission constr
c. ton Is permitted 10 proceed. Uni
comparison of progress by State :