Smyrna times., 1936-08-20
TO RID HIGHWAY
OF r. R. TRACKS
Bridge on Wilmington Cause
way to Span Tracks
For Safety
SPAN TO COST s25O,OOO

Plans for arrangements of the
tacks of the Reading Railroad over
the South Market Street causeway
have been completed and final plans
are being prepared for the new L.
5OO-foot railroad crossing eliminat-
ing bridge on the causeway. The
bridge, when constructed during
the winter, will eliminate the two
dangerous railroad crossings espec-
tally that of the Shellpot cutoff of
the Pennsylvania Railroad which
has resulted in several fatal acci-
dents. Rearrangement of the
tracks was the last obstacle to the
final approval of the plans. The
bridge, to be constructed at cost
of approximately $500 is part
of the S5OO,0O0 bridge construction
program of the State Highway De-
partment. Three of the bridges
are grade crossing elimination
bridges carried on with Federal
funds, two of which are under con-
struction at Newark and New Cas-
tie. The other IS the new bridge
to be constructed over Silver Lake
on the highway leading into Dover.
Plans Not Fully Completed
w. w. Mack, chief engineer of
the State Highway Department,
said bids will be asked for the
causeway bridge probably in the
fall and work started early in the
winter AS the plans are not COM
pleted and must be submitted to
federal authorities in Washington
for final approval it is not known
exactly when bids will be asked.
An engineering conference between
officials of the State Highway De-
partment, headed by A. G. Living
ston, bridge engineer, and the
Pennsylvania and Reading Rail
road in Philadelphia, recently
smoothed out the way for the con-
struction of the causeway crossing
elimination bridge. The bridge will
be approximately 800 feet long
including the approaches, and will
have a 44-foot wide roadway for
four-lane traffic, with sidewalks in
addition to the roadway.
Federal Approval is Needed
Construction of this bridge is on
the approved list of projects for
the State Highway Department
and with the adjustment of the rail
difficulties plans are well advanced
The relocation of tracks of the
Reading Railroad will make posi-
BILE the saving of about 700 feet in
the length of the bridge. The
gates of the Pennsylvania crossing
which will be eliminated by the
construction of the bridge, have
been destroyed repeatedly by auto
mobiles of motorists who failed to
see them. Two persons were kill
ed in one accident at this crossing
last year, and several persons have
been killed in previous accidents
there.
Bridge at Silver Lake, Dover
Plans for the new bridge ovel
Silver Lake have been completed
and have been sent to Washington
for final approval Advertisement:
for construction of this bridge will
be posted soon. The present mar
row bridge at this point has beer
the scene of many accidents anC
served to slow up traffic during
busy periods. The new structure
: will be A feet wide and will pro
vide four traffic lanes. There will
be sidewalks also. The structur,
will consist of three arches and will
be decorative design. Work i!
: expected to start on this bridg.
soon after Labor Day. 1t will cos
$50, 900.
,, Bridge Completed at New Castle
, E. E. Downing, division enginee
for the State Highway Department
for New Castle County, said las
week the crossing elimination
bridge at New Castle has beel
!, completed and work on the ap
proaches well advanced. Thi
bridge, part of the crossing elm
ination program built at cost o
$500, 900, will be opened for use b,
September 1. Construction of tn
: grade crossing elimination bridg
over the Pennsylvania tracks TO
South College Avenue, Newark,
, approximately 40 per cent com
plete. This bridge will be place
> in use some time during the win
= ter. 1t is being constructed at
cost of $115,00O.
Kent Band Concerts
q Friday evening of last week, tn
: Kent County Band, under directio
of CaDtain Robert ID SimmOn,