WATERLOO BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1935, Page 16

WATERLOO BRIDGE

CONSTRUCTION SECRETS

Demolition of Waterloo' Bridge is constantly revealing secrets of John Rennie's work. No contract drawings were left by the builders of last century, and the engineers discover these secrets of construction as they proceed. Frequently they find themselves faced with new problems. There was' some surprise, , for instance, when it was discovered that the space between the old road and the arches was largely hollow, states the "Daily Telegraph." It had given the appearance of solid stone, and has carried its burdens for over a century as well as. if this had been so. The old bridge, now nearly half demolished, has become, -an enormous workshop, where constructional material of all descriptioiis is being prepared for use in the removal of the great arches and piers. Balustrades, friezes, cornices, and roadway have been removed. Between each pier is a series of gaping pits looking like shellholes, and while squads of men are busy wrecking and carrying away debris, scores of others are assembling great steelwork frames, gantries, girders, and suspension devices. • The vast steel framework towering above the old roadway, which is to support the masonry of the arches at a later stage, has all been constructed on the bridge. Large concrete blocks, like military "pill-boxes," have been erected at various points to bear the heavy stresses involved as the bridge is slowly pulled to pieces. Scores of thousands of pounds have been spent on the various structures with the aid of which the final stages of demolition are to be carried out. And when the long task is finished their usefulness" will have passed, and they will become mere scrap. There are a number of apparently useless holes in the concrete blocks. An L.C. engineer said that they were for the purpose of making it easy to blast the* concrete to bits. Work on the demolition began in June last year, and it is expected to xake a year more to complete. Some 350 workmen are at present engaged, apart from a large clerical and supervisory1 staff. Removal of the arches is expected to begin in about three months. Plans have been made which ensure that traffic will be maintained along the Victoria Embankment and sufficient headroom allowed for trams and buses. Covered ways have been provided for pedestrians.