Evening star., 1925-11-22
8(DD-TON V|ADUCT
/ QUICKLY IN PLACE
1OO-Foot Steel and Concrete
Span Is Swung Over Geor-
gia Avenue in II Minutes.

one OF the most dangerous grade
crossings on the main highways lead
ing into the District will be elm
mated December when the second
half of the 100000 viaduct over
Georgia avenue extended. at Silver
Spring, Nd, is moved into place.
Working with amazing speed, 50
as not to interrupt railroad traffic.
gangs oS skilled workmen, assisted
by a mighty crane, yesterday morn
ing tore away the temporary heavy
wooden structure which had been
I built in the roadway sunken under
the tracks and then hauled into posi-
ton the half section of the viaduct,
which had been constructed alongside
the wooden treStle. Though the sec
ton of the Viaduct weighs nearly 500
tons, the crane standing on the tracks
above rolled it more than 20 feet
into place with bewildering ease.
using Il block and tackle. The opera
ton took only II minutes.
To experienced engineers the tear
ing away of old bridges and the shov-
ing of mountainous new structures
into place without interruption of
traffic is IAN everyday thing" but
hundreds OF interested laymen stood
on the banks of the tunnel on Geor-
Cia avenue yesterday watching open
mouthed.
Work Long Prepared.
The transfer of the two bridges was
accomplished only after six months of
careful work and planning. First,
the roadway to lead under the via
duct was tunneled up to the tracks
OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
where they cross Georgia avenue.
Then. piece by piece, heavy wooden
beams were inserted to form the
wooden trestle. All the while traffic
ran without interruption on the tracks
above.
Then alongside the wooden struc-
tnre was built out of concrete and
great steel I beams the 100-foo spans
OF the new structure. One-half sec
ton on either side of the tracks.
SiXfoot blocks of concrete were
sunk in the roadbed under the viaduCt
as bases for the uprights of the via
huct and supporting walls were built
at each end
Under the supporting steel beams of
the new structure was laid a long
track of steel rollers designed to car.
ry the spans into position.
After the Snorting crane had torn
away the old wooden structure yes
terday morning, tossing heavy steel
=,
up whole sections of the Weighty tres
tlework. the end of a 3-inch hawser
was tied to its arm and without ap-
parent effort, il backed away. the
blocks and tackles creaked. and the
heavy span rolled swiftly into place
without a hitch
The second section will be allowed
TO stand until December to let the
concrete thoroughly harden. and then
the process will be repeated.
Boss" Is Modest.
The work was under the active di-
rectton of Thomas Berger, bridge su-
perintendcnt of a private engineering
concert. He was the general of the
day. With one eye on the movement
OF the crane and the viaduct and the
other watching out for the safety Cf
his men, he made a colorful figure.
Look out, Dick get Your foot from
under that tie or you won't have any
foot he cried as the crane was
about to set down a steel beam on
the railroad tie in question.
Hot rail, boys, watch out for No.
7S." he warned as q. Washington
train swept down the free track.
But Berger takes his work most
nonchalantly. You might call this
a feat. or you might not" he said
modestlv Its done all the time on
the roads; the public just doesn't
hear much about it
Supervising the work was p. CT.
Lang. engineer OF bridges OF the en-
tire Baltimore and Ohio system; r
G. Hoskins, divisional superintenden
and Richard Mather, district en-
sineer.