The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21
VIADUCT PLANS
NEED REVISION,
SAYS KENDRlCk
Former City Engineer
Points Out Flaws In
Plans

Julian Kendrick, former city ensln-
Ger and a close student of the grade
crossing problem for years, declared IN
{, statement Saturday that a vladuct at
Twenty-fourth street is one of Birmlng-
hams greatest needs, but suggested that
the plans for the span be revised some
what so as to conveniently care for
all classes of traffic
The grade on the north approach is
20 per cent sleeper than the steepest
point on the Twenty-first street vladuct
anproach, and would be Objectionable
because of the small loads that could be
hauled over the span, and vastly more
objectionable because of the danger to
life and property. kendrlck declares
lie lists other objections to the plans
MS drawn and urges their immediate re-
vision, in view of the fact that the
Twenty -four street viaduct rs destined
to be one of the most important in the
city, not only for passenger cars but
for trucks being the only through street
between Twenty second and Thirty-sec-
ond streets-a distance of one mile.
Statement In Full
During last August several articles
,npeared in the local press stating in
substance that the railways had offered
to construct viaduct at the Elghteentn
street crossing, provided the city would
nay 35 per cent of the cost, and also
that the city was willing to accept the
proposition provided the railways would
assume IS per cent of the cost. Later
l stated. in substance, that II the rail-
ways, offered to bear the entire cost
it would, IN my opinion, be a pubic
calamity for the city to accept the offer
or any offer that would result In the
construction of viaduct at the Elgh-
tenth street crossing.
~ also called attention to certain
grave defects in the city's general plans
for grade separation, including the plans
for the viaduct at Twenty-fourth street.
After securing additional expert advice
the city seems to have accepted my sug-
gestions, almost in toto, and evidently
undertook to cure the defects so far as
the underpass plans were concerned by
ordinances adopted October p, 1924.
However, in my opinion, the revised
plans, if carried out, would necessltate
the expenditure of much greater
amount than would be required to ac-
complish practically the same results
by the use of proper plans.
"The ordinance adopted on the same
date providing for the erection of via
duct at the Twenty-fourth street cross
ing, adhered closely to the city's original
plans.
Articles appearing recently in the
hnN-
offered to comply with this ordinance,
provided, the city will pay 35 per cent
of the cost, and all the consequential
damages and that the city has countered
by offering to pay 25 per cent of the
cost and all the consequential damages.
Should Not Accept
"Whether the foregoing is exactly
accurate or not, is of no consequence
In my opinion, it would be public
calamity for the city to accept such a
viaduct as is described in the ordinance
free of all cost for construction and con.
sequential damages.
''Some of the objections to the plans
described in the ordinance are as fol
lows:
"The proposed driveway is to be onl,
sc feet wide Tor II feet narrower thai
| that on the IWentytlrSt street Vladuct)
which is not adequate. While the side
walks are to be only five feet six inche
wide.
The grade on the north approach
is too steep, being 6 per cent or q
per cent sleeper than the steepest grad
on the Twenty-first street viaduct ap
proaches, which is stunned by practi
cally all heavily loaded trucks. TIL
maximum grade on the Twenty-fourtl
street viaduct, or approaches SHOULD
not exceed per cent, and be as mucl
less as practicable. While steep grade
are Objectionable on account of tn
smaller loads that may be hauled VI
them vet they are vastly more objection
able on account of the danger to life liml
and property incident to the descen
of such grades. by heavily loade'
Continued On Page Eight