WATERLOO BRIDGE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12530, 16 April 1935, Page 4

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 a;> they proceed. Frequently they find themselves 'faced with new problems. Ther was some surprise, tor instance, when it wa.s. discovered that the space between the old road and ( the arches was largely hollow, states the “Daily Telegraph.’' It had given the appearance of soli,d stone, and has carried its burdens for over a century as well as if this had been so.. The old bridge, now nearly half de molishcd, has become an. enormous workshop, where constructional material of all descriptions is being prepared for use iii the removal of the great arches and .piers. Balustrades, friezes cornices, and roadway have been moved. Between each pier is a series of pits looking like .shell-holes, and while squads of men are busy wrecking and carrying away the debris, scores of others are assembling great steel-work frames, gantries, girder's and suspension devices. Tho vaht steel framework towering above the old roadway which is to support tiie 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 | ,v tho bridge is slowly pulled to pieces. Scores of thousands of pounds have been spent on the various structures with the aid of which the filial stages of demolition aro to be carried out. And when the long task is finished their usefulness will have passed and they will become mero scrap. There aro a. number of apparently useful 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 bib;. Work on the demolition began in Juno last year, and it is expected!, to take a year more, to complete. Some 350 workmen are at present engaged* apart from a largo clerical and supervisory 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 lipadroom allowed for trams and buses Covered ways have been provided for pedestrians. <