SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20627, 28 July 1930, Page 12

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE.

STEEL TAPES ACROSS THE GAP

CHECKING CALCULATIONS

Mr. Lawrence Ennis, the engineer dir

ecting tho construction of tho Sydney Harbour Bridge, has given some particulars relating to tho steel tapes which are being stretched across the gap between tho north and south arms of the bridge. The arms were linked up a week cr two ago by ropes, preliminary to the adjustment of the tapes, which are to be stretched across the gap. " Up to tho present," said Mr. Ennis, "wo have relied on survey readings and calculations lor our positions; that is to say, for the distance from the main bearing pins on tlie north and south shores. For both level and directional alignment, the position of the arms is practically exact, and in accordance with the calculations given by the consulting engineers of Dorman, Long, and Company nearly two years ago. " As to the steel tapes, there, appears l<> be a general impression that we are stretching them across the gap for tho purpose of measuring the distance to enable us to complete the shop fabrication of tho last- two panels of the arch. Nothing could be further from the actual reason. As a matter of fact, the members to complete all the remaining panels of tho arch are already completely labricated in our workshops at Milson's Point., and are now stored ready for erection. " The main reason for stretelling these special tapes across the harbour is to determine tho exact extent to which my erection staff will require to slack off the anchorage cables to make the closure at tho centre. The information thus obtained will enable us to make the necessary preparations while wo are carrying out tho erection of the last panels of tho arch."