The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-06

During the past two years, Connecticuts highway system has been improved with the construc- ton of i've of the largest and mos. unique bridges ever built in the state, including the largest all con- crete grade crossing elimination in New England. All of these bridge projects, according to Highway Commissioner John A. Macdonald, have drawn international acclaim from highway engineering author tiles who have view them.
 Two of the larger new bridges are located in the upper Housaton- ic valley where huge spans now carry the highway both over the river and the railroad tracks on the eastern bank at Cornwall and Lime Rock, respectively. The Cornwall span is rivaled in size only by the Jewett City grade crossing elimina- ton project which carries over two rivers and the railroad tracks.
 The Cornwall bridge, however, is of @ continuous type. while at Jew cit City there is a strip of ordinary highway between the two spans. The Cornwall structure is the longest concrete arch bridge in the state and the largest all concrete grade separation in New England. From end to end, the bridge Is 747 feet long and 36 feet six inches wide.
 It consists of eight spans. six of which are of the open spandrel arch type and two of which. those on each side, are girder spans. The center arch, spanning the river, measures 192 feet from center to center of the main piers. Reln- forced concrete was used both Tor building of the substructurc and superstructure, the amount of con- crete required being sufficient to pave more than four miles of high way at a width of twenty feet and the amount of steel sufficient for two miles of railroad track.
 The bridge passes forty feet above the streets of the village on both sides of the river. Concrete stalrways were built on both sides for the convenience of pedestrians going to and from the stores, rall- road station and postocfie. The bridge eliminates one of the old covered wooden bridges, which, narrow and dark. were apt 10 make even the most experienced motorists fearful of successful pa ssage, especially when the rum bling of floor timbery gave the im- pression that the entire structure was collapsinE.
 A few miles north of the Corn wall bridge on the same route U. $. No. 7. following the Housh- tonic scenery into the Berkshires, Is the new bridge at Lime ROCK Tn the town of Canaan. The construc- ton here involved difficult engi- neering task. The old Lime ROCK bridge of the steel truss type was narrow, approached by sharp curve on the east, an dits use ne. cessitated travelling section or unimprovcd country road lylng east of the river where Il grade crossing with particularly bad sight lines added to the difficulties of easy passage. The new proJect runs north of the old bridge and extends straight across the river, over the railroad, and by an easy curve Joins the improved road leading to Canaan.
 The Lime Rock construction con- sists of two separate bridges, one over the river and one over the railroad tracks, separated by q stretch of ordinary improved high. way. The river bridge consists or q three span deck steel truss on concrete piers and abutmcnts. The three spans are respectively 72 feet, 9G feet and 40 feet. making the total length of the bridge 223 feet, six inches. The width is just short of 34 feet, 50 that there is TO mofor four cars to pass at the same time.
 The bridge spanning the railroad