REMARKABLE ENGINEERING FEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 147, 22 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

REMARKABLE ENGINEERING FEAT.

An interesting engineering feat "was accomplished on the Tyne lately, when the spans and roadway' of the bridge connecting Newcastle and Gateshead, which had been built four and a half feet to the eastward of the position they were ultimately to occupy, were moved over into place. The building of the bridge has been remarkable as an example of modern engineering practice. An old bridge existed, and the new bridge has been built on precisely the same site the old one occupied. The traffic has yet gone on uninterruptedly. The new piers were built round about the old ones, and the roadway and spans were erected a little above and four and a half feet to one side of the old roadway and spans, a temporary footway meanwhile being provided for foot passengers. The old piers were then taken away and the new roadway was lowered to its proper level and on Sunday morning moved over into its permanent position. This was accomplished by means of hydraulic jacks. The total weight of the bridge was 1600 tons, and the jacks were capable of exerting a pressure of loOOlbs to the square inch. The bridge is built of steel and is of the American type, but the detils are strictly in accordance with the best English practice. There are four spans, two of 252 feet, and each of the others. 170 feet. The total length of the bridge and its approaches is 1900 feet. Its total weight is 2900 tons. The bridge is carried on cylinder foundations, each eight feet in diameter and sunk to a depth of 50 feet below low water. There are four cylinders to each pier.