The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-12

For the College Ave. bridge is
City Engineers Chester c. Ober-
leas inspecting the structure today
said it had sunk total of two feet,
nine inches into the creek bed.
1t has sunk two inches he said,
since he inspected the structure late
Friday after police closed it to
traffic when a length-wise crack ap-
peared in the bridge sidewalk.
He said he believed the bridge now
had at least temporarily stopped
sinking.
Five Foot Gap
The crack widened during the
night and morning and at noon was
from five to six feet wide at it's
widest point and extended nearly
half the length Of the structure.
In the meantime city officials de-
bated moves to rush erection OF
new bridge.
Councilmen o. Ray Albertson,
Walter R. Dorsett and Otis Z. Bar
tholomew inspected the ruins Of the
old structure and said a special ses-
sion of council might be called next
week to consider a special bond Is
sue to erect new bridge.
Cost About $270,0OO
Roy C. Shaneberger, board of
works president, estimated new
bridge would cost about $270.000.
He recommended erection of new
bridge at city cabinet meeting this
morning and Mayor Duvall said he
favored new structure.
The board of works Friday, before
learning of the latest collapse Of the
old structure, voted to advertise for
plans and bids for a new bridge and
for repairing the old one. They are
to be received March 25.
The bridge was closed to traffic
late Friday when police inspected the
middle arch and support and re-
ported it had sunk four feet during
the afternoon.
Pieces of the balustrade are con-
cracking, showing some dis
turibing vibration. Looking length
ways along the structure on the east
side, the railing and underworld of
the bridge seems to have dropped
about four feet and is leaning out
about the same distance.
The middle arch of the structure,
south Of the sunken support, Is in
the worst condition. Al gap about
three feet in width zig-zags down
the sidewall.
The crack extends into the south
side Of the north arch.
A special council committee COM
posed of Boynton J. Moore. Walter
r. Dorsett and Otis e. Bartholomew.
that the bridge, built
twenty-five years ago, be closed
after inspecting it about two weeks
ago.
Oberleas declared that the bridge
was in no danger Of falling a16 re-
fused to close it.
The council passed a resolution
at it's last meeting that it go on
favoring the closing Of the bridge
Immediately.
Street cars have been rerouted to
take care OF the passengers who
used the College Ave. line north of
the bridge, j. P. Tretton, superin-
tendent Of the Indianapolis Street
Railway Company, said.
One line. combining the Thirty
Fourth st. and Central Ave. cars
and some of the College Ave. cars,
will be run by way of Central and
Fairfield Aves. to Forty-Sixth st.
and College Ave. and to Broad Rip
pie. Another line between downtown
and College Ave. Is to operate over
the loop at Twenty-Seventh st. and
College Ave. Bus service over the
Thirtieth St. bridge will connect with
the north College Ave. line at Fair
field Ave.
Union Traction cars will use the
Central Ave. bridge while the bridge
is out Of commission Tretton said.
There is little to be done with the
bridge now," Oberleas said. "All we
can do is close it and make all the
speed possible toward erecting a
new one"
1.-THE bridge needed repairs" was
his only answer when asked what
caused sinking Of the structure.
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