Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-05-05
HEAVY TRUCK BAN
ON BRIDGES FOUGHT
Owners Say Reduction OF
Limit Would Force Them to
Scrap Vehicles,

Owners of commercial vehicles haul
ing brick. sand. gravel, coal and oil
made vigorous protest against pro-
posed amendment to the traffic regu-
lations which would reduce from U.s.
600 to 10000 p"Inds the gross weight
limit of trucks crossing Highway
Bridges and seven others. at public
hearing conducted by the District
commissioners today.
The reduction, the truck owners
declared. would be discriminatory
and would cause them to scrap their
larger units end replace them with
a large number OF smaller vehicles,
which, they contended, would inten-
sify traffic congestion and would in
crease cost of materials TO con-
sumers.
David Z. McComb. District en-
gineer of bridges. urged the adoption
of the amendment in the interest
of public safety. a large proportion
of the buckle plates on the High
way Bridge. he said. are bent and
are not capable of supporting trucks
of more than 10000 pounds capacity.
Thirteen of the plates already have
been replaced he said and five now
need replacement.
Flooring Also Damaged.
The buckle plates are flexible. Mr..
McComb explained and the repeated
stresses on them by heavy trucks not
only result in breakage. but damage
the asphalt surfacing of the bridge. A
new floor base in the bridge, he said,
would make it safe for 2s,000.pound
loads.
Engineer Commissioner J. Frank.
lin Bell pointed out that the Commits
sioners made an effort to get funds to
refioor the bridge in the appropriation
bill for the next fiscal year, but that
the item had been eliminated. He said
the Commissioners have planned to
put a new deck on the bridge, and
will again request Congress for funds
in the appropriation bill of 1928.
Other bridges on which the proposed
traffic amendment would limit the
weight of trucks to 10000 pounds gross
follow: Benning Bridge. Navy Yard
Bridge and Pennsylvania Avenue
Bridge over the Anacostia River. Six
teenth STREET Bridge, across Military
road; South Dakota Avenue Bridge.
across the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road tracks; wharf s, Water street
southwest between NJ and N streets.
and the municipal fish wharves at the
foot Of Eleventh street southwest.
l.. r. West of the West Brick Co.
described the proposed reduction in
weight as "a very farreaching reEu-
lation," and said Ii would force him
to Junk all of his 5, 6 and ton trucks
and buy twice As many smaller We
hicles. James Z. Colliflower of the
Collifower Coal Co. expressed the
opinion that commercial trucks had
done no damage to the surface of
Highway Bridge. as they cause little
vibration.
Others Support Contentious.
In support of Mr.. Collifiower's state
face on the west side OF the bridge
is in just as bad condition as 1t is
on the east side.
Henry E. Stringer, manager of the
Hydraulic Press Brick Co., told the
Commissioners the proposed restric-
ton would increase cost OF hauling
331s per cent. He said he would start
subscription among the truck own
ers to pay the cost of replacing the
weak buckle plates on the Highway
bridge II the weight limit is not re-
duced.
Small trucks going at high speed
to more damage to street surfaces
than large trucks moving at low
speed. Col. ]. G. Moller. assistant
traffic director. advised the Commits
Of II miles an hour not only for
trucks but for street cars moving
across any bridge.
The Commissioners will hold an
other public hearing Monday morn
ing at 10 o'clock to consider a pro-
posal to prohibit heavy trucks from
travelling on residential streets.