The Washington times., 1923-01-04

Engineers Expect Opening Of
Georgetown Structure in
Coming Week.
By GEORGE FRANKLrN.

w ltuH Iu6 CUHl1HH WcCA IAAc
Georgetown Bridge, popularity
known as the Frances Scott Key
Memorial Bridge, connecting
Georgetown with Rosslyn, win be
officially opened. This was all
Maj. Max Tyler, U. S. A. E. c., in
charge Of construction Of the
bridge, would promise today. He
even qualified this assurance by
stating that weather conditions
were the determining factor con-
trolling the opening of the bridge
and that for some time past condi-
tions had operated to hold UP the
work.
Work on Approaches.
Major Tyler was found directing
the surfacing of the temporary ap-
proaches to the bridge. They pre-
scented all OF the appearances Of be-
ing spongy mass That's absolutely
refused to set. regardless OF the con-
tinual rolling given them in an ef-
fort to squeeze out the water alb
sorbed during the numerous rains
Of the past week.
There IL our big problem just
now" said Major Tyler. pointing
to the soggy mass, getting the
temporary approaches ready to
stand traffic. They speak for them.
selves. What we need is q day
or two of drying weather. That
would give them chance to settle
and we could go ahead with the
SlIrfacing."
A piece of motorized equipment
pulled across the approach. It left
two parallel ruts cut deep by Its
rubber tired wheels. Major Tyler
sighed. The steam roller was
ordered back and set to work iron
ing out the trail of the motor
truck.
"That is what we are up
against" he explained. There is
only one thing to do under these
conditions, keep on making road
and wait for the weather to i'm
prove. That is why I cannot
definitely set a day for the open
ing OF the bridge"
Structurally the bridge is COM
plete. Electric globes have been
placed along the east parapet.
Those for the opposite parapet will
be installed at once. The roadbed
of the bridge is finished and in
condition to stand up under the
heaviest traffic The sidewalks are
receiving the finishing touches of
the dresserS who are rubbing down
the rough places and pointing UP
section lines. Were it not for the
two unfinished approaches the
bridge could go into commission
today. But the approaches are
little less than impossible masses
of rock and binder which must
harden down before the surfaces
can be laid. Dry weather must
come, engineers say, before this
can be accomplished. Those in
charge of the work believe, how.
ever, that within the coming week
the approaches can be completed
and the bridge thrown open to the
public.
Impatient for Opening.
Completion of the bridge marks
the attainment of one of the great
expectations entertained for years
by Washingtonians as we'll as resi-
dents of Virginia. Work on the
bridge really commenced in July Of
1918. Then the Government un.
dertook its construction when it
was found impossible to induce con
tractors to take over the work at
anything less than a prohibitive
| price. Since then it has been car
ried on by the engineering corps
| with the aid of hired help. In a
sense it has proved an inspiring
| object lesson, for, while the Gov.
eminent appropriated $3.50 900 for
the construction of the bridge, it's
| cost to the Government will not
exceed $2.250,OO0
Structurally the bridge Is pro.
| nounced one of the finest pieces of
| engineering work accomplished by
| the Government during the past
| few years. 1t is of the concrete
type, consisting of series of
arched spans ranging in height
| from IS feet, where the bridge
crosses the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal on the Georgetown side, to
208 feet in the clear over the chan.
mel section Of the river. Over all
the bridge measures Asa feet, with
a width Of so feet between the par.
apets. Tracks for the Capi,al
Traction Company have been laid
and when the bridge is opened
the cars will cross the river to Ros.
| lyn, where they will connect with
the Washington and Old Dominion
Railway Company. The terminal
Of the latter company will be es,