Evening star., 1923-01-18
GEORGETOWN SPAN
OPENED TO TRAFFIC
Old Aqueduct Bridge Almost
] Deserted as Barriers to
! New Structure Removed.

Wheels of traffic moved swiftly across
the new Georgetown bridge today. max
ing the old Aqueduct bridge at its side,
which has served Georgetown and Nir-
gnia for more than eight decades, seem
dreary and forSallen III contrast.
The bridge had no formal opening.
When barriers at the mouth of the
bridge on either side were taken away
il was ready to take up the burden
where the Aqueduct bridge laid it down.
Street cars are not yet running over it,
although the tracks are laid on the
bridge proper Street car traffic is
awaiting the completion of loop on
the Virginia side Of the bridge Trucks
more than six tons in weight are not
yet allowed the use of the new bridge.
Signs forbdding such traffic are at
both entrances
New Bridge Busy.
The new structure has a snIuG ap-
pcaranco in contrast with the old
worn-out Aqueduct bridge. On the
Georgetown bridge rush automobiles
and trucks. horSe-drawn vehicles and
tractors hauling trailcrs behind
them 20 and from Virginia. On the
Aqueduct bridge there are a few
spectators, loaftng against the railing.
y street ear rumhlcS across now and
then. Lumhcring trucks, too big yet
Tor the new bridge. at widely spaced
intervals 30 humping across the old
bridge
Reinforced concrete was used
throughout in the new structure. The
total length. including approaches. is
about 2,I00 feet. The concrete struc-
ture proper is about i.i50 feet, made
mp OF a central arch 20S feet long.
with two arches on either side 204
and lS7 feet in length. The approach
arches are - feet and So feet. the
last named being over the c. and O.
canal on the Washington side. Re
tanning walls hold the earth filled
approaches at both sides
Based on solid Rock.
The piers and abutments are built
on solid rock about twentYthree fee t
below mean low water. The bridge
is seventy feet wide over all, and has
two siXtecn-foot roadwayS and two
cight-foot sidewalks. as Well as a
double track for the street railway.
At the central span the roadway of
the bridge IS about eighty-five feet
above mean low water
There are 5000 cubic yards of con-
crete in the structure The amount
OF coal used on the operation was
about 1000 tons. almost 100000 bar
rtlS OF cement were used. more IMAM
100000 pounds OF steel were placed
in concrete. 10000 cubic yards OF sand
and $1,000 cubic yards of stone and
gravel were used. The steel centers
or arch forms contain 900. 900 pounds
of steel.
Approximately 1900 cubic yards of
riprap stone has been placed below
the water line to protect the concrete
piers from ice and debris coming
down river.
Much Lumber Used.
One and half million feet Of lum-
Der were used for general ConStruc-
tion purposes. while 100000 feet OF
lumber were used as forming for the
concrete.
Conduits run under the sidewalk
on each side across the entire length
OF the bridge for water mains. tele-
graph. telephone and power cables.
The conduits are four feet six inches
by seven feet. providing ample room
for future requirements.
Eighty eight electric light posts
have been installed on the bridge to
provide for illumina ton.
Aqueduct Bridge History.
The old Aqueduct bridge. looking
so forlOrn and desolatc today while
the tickle public turns to the latest
convenience. is in the declining days
of a life Of eighty years, during
which time it has served as a traffic
artery for Georgetown and that part
of Virginia lying to the west and
southwest of WASHINGTON. The troll
ley ears rumhling slowly across at
intervals enhance the picture Of its
solitude
1t was in 1882 that construction of
the bridge was started. Maj Turn
bull, L. :. A., directed the conStruc-
tion work The bridge was then to
be used as a combined roadway and