The New Tay Bridge.

Southland Times, Issue 9544, 14 June 1887, Page 2

The New Tay Bridge.

The last girder for the Dew Tay bridge was floated on 26ih February from the works at the south shore, and placed ia position in the navigable channel in the centre of the river. The massive structure weighs between 500 and 600 tons. The operution was witnessed oy Mr Barlow and iiJLr Crawford Barlow, the engineers of the bridge, and Mr ArroJ, the contractor. With the floating oat of this girder the last stage of the work of erecting the new structure has boen entered upon. Although the half of the 145 feet girder immediately to the south of the large spana bas yet to be placed in position! the two baoka of the river are now connected. The permanent way on the north side has been laid to within a short distance of this large girder, while on the south side the rails have been laid acrosa almost to the last of the 145 feet girder ia the section of the bridge. An attempt was to be made to have the structure ready for the running of goods traffic in May, while the 29th June, fixed for the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee, has been suggested for the formal opening A number of young men went out from the Dundee end of the bridge to witness the placing of the girder, and, after it had been set on the tops of the piers, they crossed over to the Fife side, being the first to do so by means of the new bridge. In the course of the journey, however, one of them narrowly escaped losing liia life. The girder to the south of the large spans is yet without the two parts forming the central portion, and in crossing it one of the young men slipped. He had, however, sufficient presence of mind to grasp the boom in bis fall, and by this means recovered his footing. Should the contractors finish the bridge in June, they will have taken five years to complete the contract. It is noticeable that the combined length of those seven girders already raised to their full height in almost equal to one of the large spans of the Forth bridge. From pier to pier of the cantilevers of the Forth bridge is 1710 feet, and the combined length of seven of the large Tay bridge girdera is 1715 feet. Mr Arrol is te be congratulated on the success which has hitherto attended his operations at the bridge. A great amount of foresight and anxious thought have been required from him, but the result has been a series of successes which must have been gratifying not only to himself, but to all directly interested in the building of the bridge. He has united the counties of File and Fcrfar a second time, and it is to be hoped that what he has joined together elemental forces will not ruthleßßly cut asunder.