Arizona state miner., 1926-05-15
TEMPE NEEDS A NEW BRIDGE THIS YEAR

resenting the Tempe Civic Club went over to
Phoenix to the open meeting called to discuss the
new WASHINGTON Boulevard. The committee was
there to fight for new bridge in Tempe and att
the same time give its approval to the new con
nection between the two towns.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.,
Shupe Judge Frank O. Smith outlined just what
had been accomplished by the committee in|
charge Of getting rights Of way. AS PRESIDENT
Of the Phoenix Chamber Of Commerce Judge
Smith welcomed the highway as q step forward
in taking care of the present as we'll as the future
in relieving congestion of the main artery Of theI
valey-Van Bdren Street. The right of way had
all been signed up 100 feet wide as far as the
Papago Park line and Washington had been PEI
itiOned to allow of the remaining part Of the road
to be finished on federal property. The urgent
need was to get some money in the treasury t0|
built cUlverts and bridges SO that petitions could
be circulated in the county petitiOning the Board
of Supervisors to make the boulevard county
road. Judge Smith wished to be excused TO re-.
spond to another meeting.
AT this point one of Tempo's representatives
asked the privilege of the floor SO that Judge
Smith could hear of the things uDperm0st in the
minds of the Tempe people. He showed that
Tempe and the majority of the SOuthside people,
were soUarely behind the Improvement, but the
road committee had not taken into account the
tact tl2tthe rOadl only IS good as the bridge at
Tempe This bridge was built as a 5-t0n MAXI
mum bridge ia 1912 only years after another
bridge had been constructed at Center Street.
At this time the traffic was light cars were not
numerous and trucks were practically unknown.
And yet, it was deemed necessary for the South
side to be connected UP by two bridges at the
time, Now, after the number Of ears travelling
is increased an hUndredfOld, and with the weight
carried increased a thousand times the two
BRIDGES must be Inadequate The Tempe bridge
had near tragedy at one food, and now is in
danger Of giving way at any time. The BRIDGE
! H. T.-.e
was declared disintegrating and UnsOund. This
had to be done to meet the demands Of traffic
No electric globes can withstand the vibration
sustained by traffic but for few nights, and the
light posts are knocked off by the necessity of
having large bodied trucks crowd to the sides
when passing Others Pedestrians travel the
bridge at their peril. The feeling Of insecuri.
combined with the nar0Wness of the blId
makes it imperative for some drivers to go l0ro
way around to get to Phoenix.
1t takes a year to build bridge, and if t
structure should be condemned hundreds Of
dents attending the Teachers College from Pho
nix and suburbs daily would be forced TO sc
long way, costing time and money Our vale
1CodStUfIs from the D6c<ing hOUee and the daii
and the garden truck Of the valley has its 0G1Ie
mainly In Gila County all Of which goes over til
bridge at Tempe The STAGES take this route an !
most Of the tourist travel is by the way of Mes
and Tempe. The town of Sc0ttsdalo has this
It's shipping point and also depends on the bride /
Tor all of these reasons new bridge is nec9ssarv
No mere patchwork will suffice. The speciaca
lions should read that the bridge should support
two fifteen ton trucks as they pass one another |
We urge this especially at this time because tn
new road will throw an added burden on a str7c
f1ro that was repaired at great expense III
months ago and at that time the life of the bri1o9
was estimated by engineers at five wears or los-
The now BRIDGE should oo straight down Mil A.
~2uo tho main street Of Tenane for two rooeoro
The first that the structure can be more gecrrol
~o~-r~~r