Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Wednesday 20 May 1908, page 10


NEW BARRACK STREET

MINISTERIAL INSPECTION, INTERESTING PARTICULARS.

This morning an official lnspsection of the new Barrack-street bridge was made by a party consisting of Mr. Gregory, the Minister for Mines, Mr, J. D. Connolly, the Colonial Seoretary,

and Mr. E. E. Light, engineer of the Railway Department. The bridge it-self on its surface level was first in-apected, and Mr. Light explained to the Ministers the new features possessed by the structure as compared with those of the old bridge. It was shown that the kerbings of the footpaths on each side of the bridge were made of Meckering granite slabs, and also the pedestals of the end columns, the main portion of which was composed of Donnybrook stone, mounted on the substantial blocks of Meckering gran-ite. The stone work of the columns has been most tastefully worked up by M. Porcelli, R.A., into scroll designs, dado patterns, and a fringe of swans. At each end of the bridge there are two columns, each supporting a hand-some, lamp bracket of three-globe lamps, all the iron-work of which was cast locally. The whole of the iron balustradlng, together with the lamp brackets, was cast locally by Messrs. Carse, Ellesmith and Co., at their

Perth foundry, from Lithgow, (New South Wales) iron ore. The bridge from balustradlng to balustrading is exactly 66 feet wide, and is in exact alignment with Bar-rack-street. The surface of the bridge is set upon moulded steel sheets, which are filled with concrete upon which are placed the blocks. Viewed from be-neath, the bridge presents a very neat and strong appearance. It is sup-ported upon a number of upright steel girders, which in turn are braced by a number of cross, but considerably lighter girders. Mr. Light explained that the whole of the steel work for the bridge had to be imported from England, but the iron work had all been obtained locally, where it was prepared from New South Wales ore. By the construction of the bridge the Railway Department has been enabled to do away with, to a great extent, the bottle-neck that existed beneath the old Barrack-street bridge between the main station yard and the lines that converged into the station east of Bar-rack-street. Although no, actual new lines have been laid, the permanent way has been considerably widened, and the lines spread out, owing to greater space, being available by the construction of the new bridge, and the resuming of vacant land on the Forrest-Stirling street corner. The Ministers at the termination of the inspection expressed themselves as being very pleased at the manner in which the work had been carried out, and at the opportunity of being able to inspect the new structure. Pleasure was also expressed by Mr.. Gregory at so many local products being used in the construction of the bridge, es-pecially in the stone work, and he ex-pressed himself of the opinion that such an extensive use of Meckerlng granite and Donnybrook, stone could have only one result, and that to fur-ther push on the stone industry of those two centres. For those who are interested in the figures which are associated with such a large piece of construction work, the following extracts from a list prepared by Mr. Light will prove of interest: — Australian iron used, 22 tons; 820 cubic yards of concrete; Meckering granite pedestals, 600 cubic feet; Meckering granite kerning, 632 lineal feet; Donny-brook stone, 425 cubic feet.