Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-15
CAUTION ORDERED
ON CHAIN BRIDGE
Commissioners Authorize
Closing Only During
High Water.

its condition from David E. McConlb
engineer Of bridges. and his assistant
Fl. r. Howser. who recommended that
| it be closed Immediately because OF
serious deterioratitAl Of the abutment
on the Virginia side Of the Potomac
River.
Although the Commissioners did
not order the closing OF the bridge II
conformity with the advice OF Capt
H. c. Whitehurst. Assistant Engineer
Commissioner, who made a thorough
examination of the bridge Monday
and reported that in his opinion II
would be safe for pedestrians and fol
certain types OF traffic to use the
structure for a limited period with
certain restrictions, they did take the
following action:
/. Ordered Mr.. McComb to close the
bridge at any periods Of high water
the elevation of the high water to be
determined by him.
2. Requested Representative Moore
Of Virginia to urge the authorities OF
that State to erect stop signs at least
so yards from the Virginia ahutmen
and to employ three watchmen to
work in eight-hour shifts to observe
conditions at the abutment at all
times.
8. Ordered rigid enforcing of the
speed limitation Of eight miles an
hour across the bridge.
4. Directed Capt. Whitehurst to
consider the advisability Of limiting
the load on the bridge to four tons, a
decrease Of two tons under the present
limitation.
Concerned by Masonry.
Mr.. Howser pointed out in his report
that he has had the bridge under con-
slant observation for several yeary
and that the disintegration Of ma.
sonrv during that time has been a
cause Of great concern.
"All indications" he said, point to
the fact that when the failure occurs
it will come without warning.
THE phoenix columns on the
trusses have been showing rust stains
at pin connections for several years
Investigation of June / to June 4
shows one pin casting split vertically
at two points. This defect is about
the center panel on the river span
and clearly indicates that corrosion
has passed the limit Of safety. dag
onal tension members show consider
able loss of metal due to abrasive &C
ton from VlDratlOn.
Blames Congress.
"The continued failure on the part
Of Congress to provide for a new
structure and the recent rapid deterio-
ration brings up the question: Must
this department the engineer of
bridges Office stand by until fatal con-
sequences are a reality and then &C.
cent the responSibility?"
A number Of photographs showing
large assures in the south abutment
to the bridge were attached to Mr..
Howser's report.
Capt. Whitehurst, who made an in
spection of the bridge following the re.
ceipt of the report from the engineer
Of bridges and his assistant, advised
the Commissioners that from his own
observation he believed that the south
abutment is lin very bad condition
THE established fact that at least
some Of the space behind the face wall
is hollow" he added, may lead at
some future time to the giving way
of the roadway Immediately above.
Both the engineer OF bridges and his
assistant have covered very carefully,
as far as inspection would permit, in
aetail the metal work Of this bridge.
Closing Recommended.
Both have recommended the
closing of this bridge to traffic.
am at this time rather reluctant to
concur and recommend the closing
of such an important traffic artery,
believing conditions do not warrant
this extreme action. II
II am not convinced In my own
mind that the conditions necessi-
tate the absolute closing Of the bridge
at the present time, but, on the other
hand, think every precaution and
care in the handling of traffic should
be observed at this point"
The Chain Bridge is SO years old
and ever since 1922 the Commission
ers have made afforts to obtain APP
preparations from Congress for its
replacement. The budget estimates
for the 192s-29 fiscal year, however,
do not contain an item for replace
nent, but indications are that in view
of the recent developments, the item
for the reconstruction Of the Klingle
Road Bridge in Connecticut avenue
will be eliminated and replaced by an
item Of S350,0o0, which District off,
Gals believe will be sufficient to re-
new Chain Bridge.
Would Share Expense.
The Commissioners, it was said, feel
that the State of Virginia should
share in the expense of replacing the
bridge, as a large part of the traffic
across it is made up of vehicles from
that State. The McClelland and
.Tunkersfeld survey of 1925 showed
that Virginia motorists use the bridge
as extensively as those from other
jurisdictions.
On a typical June day Of that year
the report recorded that the inbound
motorists numbered 317 from the Dis
trict of Columbia, PSI from Virginia
and 26 from other Jurisdictions, and
the outbound traffic was distributed as
follows: District Of Columbia, 37S; Vir
ginia, 81, and other jurisdictions, "a
Cites Long. Existing Necessity.
The necessity for reconstructine
| Chain Bridge has been recognized fol-
| some time, it was pointed out this
morning by Representative Moore Of
| Virginia, into whose district the bridge
| leads.
The rebuilding has been recommend
| ed by the Commissioners, and III the
last two Congresses bills to this enc
nave Deen introduced, 4AE. moore re
called, the measures having the in
dorsement Of the Commissioners
Board of Trade and Chamber of Com
merce. No opposition was indicted II
Congress, the Representative added
but the proposal encountered the op
position Of the Bureau of the Budget
Mr.. Moore expressed the hope tha'
| in view Of the present serious situa
ton, and because the interest of tn,
| District of Columbia is so largely in
volved, some action may be had IL
the next Congress.
Roadbuilding Emphasized.
In passing, he drew attention to thu
fact that roads are being constructed
rapidly in Virginia over a very Wild
territory which serves travel to thu