Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-06
Propose Building
Memorial Bridge
Over MessalOnskee
Stream, Waterville

The construction of a new concrete
arch bridge with a 60-foot span and
S0-foot roadway across Messalonskee
stream at the lower end of Silver
street in Waterville was favored by
those present at public hearing held
Wednesday before the State Highway
Commission at the council chamber at
the State House. at which officials and
other representative citizens of that
city and the county commissioners Of
kennebec county were in attendance.
.Tha proposed bridge would have q
hve-foot sidewalk. and retaining walls
to widen the roadway at the junction
of the Oakland and the Augusta roads
The estimated cost of this structure
Is s34.S0o. of which the State would
pay 25 per cent, the county 80 per
cent. and the city of Waterville As per
cent.
Final decision for the building Of the
bridge will he left for the people of
Waterville. the matter being left open
at the suggestion Of Mayor Leon 0.
Tebbetts of that city. who. although IA
vorng the plan as suggested, stated
that the financial side was a little
higher than he has anticipated and
| that he would like to bring the Ques-
ton up at public hearing in that city.
Plans for the bridge, which is to be
memorial to the boys of that city who
lost their lives in the World War, in
clude the building Of a small lookout
balcony at the west end and the cree
ton of bronze tablet bearing the
names of the soldiers.
Two other plans for bridges across
| this stream were outlined by L. N. Ed
wards, bridge engineer of the State
highway department. One Of these con-
templates a. bridge such as described
above except that 1t, would be fiared
eight and half feet at the west end,
while the other was for the erection
of two 30-foot T beam spans. having
a 30-foot roadway and a five-foot side
walk on the east end and flaring to
provide for a 3S-foot roadway on the
west end, also contemplating q retain
ing wall which would still further
widen the approach Mt the end towards
Augusta. The estimated cost Of the
former is S37,S00, and of the latter
s44400.
Each of these plans provides for a
bridge much wider than the present
structure and would eliminate the now
dangerous condition Of the highway at
, that point.
aSpNitOtu9 ttNOntC oFtOAS
There was also considerable discus
sion at the hearing regarding the re-
building Of the Ticonic bridge between
Waterville and Ninslow. Mayor Teb-
| belts of Waterville pointed out that
that bridge is on one of the main ar
teries of travel in the State. that it has
to be replanked every two years with
four-inch oak, and that it appeared to
him that the State and county should
bear part Of the expense Of it's upkeep.
Bridge Engineer Edwards said that
the bridge. which is Of wrought iron.
was built in 1884, that the floor beams
are safe for load Of orly about seven
tons while the rest of the structure is
safe for q lotion load. He suggested
renewing the floor beams and the deck
and surfacing the new floor with btu
minous macadam. the estimated cost
being $4,000 divided as follows: State
$4,000. county $4,000, Winslow and Wa
terville $4,000.
County Commissioner q. J. Hussey
of Vassalhoro said that he did not see
how tho changes suggested constitute
building or rebuilding and he did not
see why the State and county should
keep the bridge in repair.
Questioned by T.. w. Crawford. city
, engineer of Watervillo. regarding this
phase of the matter. Chairman Frank
A. Peabody of the commission declar-
ed that he assumed that the State and
county would have to pay part OF the
expense. otherwise a new bridge might
have to be built there soon.
George A. Chamberlain, chairman Of
the selectmen of Winslow. said that
the people of Winslow realize that
something must be done to the bridge,
and that he had noticed that the bridge
has been sliding on the piers towards
Waterville. He did not think the peo-
pie of Winslow would make a protest
against repairing the bridge.
Bridge Engineer Edwards said that