Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-25
new DELAY ON START
OF THE STATE BRIDGE

(Contlnued from page ID
the present bridge, will accommo-
date four lines of vehicular traffic,
with provision for street car tracks
along the middle of the roadway,
and in addition will have a sidewalk
along each side.
cit is estimated that by 1926, when
the bridge will be completed, the
usual daily traffic will include be-
sides pedestrians fifty to 100 horse
drawn vehicles, so to 100 electric
cars, and from 5000 to 1900 motor
vehicles. On special occasions, such
as holidays, the vehicles will proba-
bly, exceed 10000.
ut is so located that it will ac-
commodate a portion Of the through
traffic between New York and Phila-
delphia and most of the traffic be-
tween New York and the New Jer-
sey %seacoast cities.
1.-THE proposed draw span has a
uniform clearance of % feet above
mean high water SO that it will not
require opening for the passage of
tugs, pilot boats, and small craft and
will therefore offer no interruption
for this class of traffic. It is estimat-
ed that about two-thirds of the OPEN
ings of the present bridge would not
DG DSCGSSdIy WILL IlS--pEOpOS1Q
clearance. This estimate is based on
a record of the openings of the pres
emit bridge covering a period Of two
years from November /, 1890, to
October 81, 1922. The record shows
from six to twenty-one openings per
day and 1t is estimated that the same
traffic would require the proposed
bridge to be opened from two to
eve times daily with an average
of As for traffic recorded in 1922.
Hearings Held
Gin connection with the proposed
bridge public hearings were held by
the Wal Department and the plans
subsequently submitted meet the
traffic requirements which include
two 40 foot clear openings with pro-
lection tenders, the second opening
being required on account Of the
rapid current at receding tide, so
that boats are allowed to drift down.
stream with the current and are not
under full control by their own pow
er. Protection tenders are required
at the outside Of the channels and
between the two channels as a guide
to the boats and to prevent them
from striking one another.
Three types of draw were consid-
cred: the bascule, vertical lift and
> VI ~ pc 1AA0 "oORSASt 80 S%S
two-opening plan eliminated from
consideration any other than the
swing type of draw span because. of
the cost. In fact, according to MI.
Macdonald, rough calculations indi-
cate that with the swing type draw
two openings r provided at about
the same cost as Il single opening of
the bascule type.
Advantages claimed for the swing
type span in the report, are as fol-
lows:
Gives full height of clearance of
twenty-eight feet for the full width
of both navigable channels with the
bridge closed which will permit I'M
interrupted passage of boats requir-
ing not more than twenty-eight feet
of clear height. Thus insuring a
small number of openings
and consequent Interruptions to
highway traffic.
The, swing draw permits the use
of concrete floor and the same kind
of pavement as is used on the rest
of the structure, thus giving more
durable construction, presents a uni
forl. appearance, and travelling sur
face, and eliminates the fire hazard.
For the movable part of the
bridge the piers should be founded
rock by a process that permit
of visual inspection of this part of
the work. The available data indi-
Gates that with the swing type draw
this object will be more easily ac-
complished.'
The swing type draw with piers
carried to rock is believed to be
more economical in cost and op-
Grafton,
The machinery for the swing draw
is well above the highest known
water and will therefore be unaf-
fected by the stage Of water or ice
conditions.
In concluding his letter to Mr..
Appleby accompanying the report,
MIR. Macdonald says: I'VE believe
that a very high-class structure has
been designed by Mr.. Hudson and
that the very best bridge within the
cost limits will be provided by the
a -,cIAJ nJoa1