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It is with pleasure and pride that we record the completion of the Battle river bridge yesterday afternoon. It has been a work of magnitude and another link has been welded in the chain destined to reach Prince Rupert.
If all the work is as expeditiously done as this huge one, we shall have just cause to rejoice with all others interested in the country’s welfare, more especially the western provinces.
The material is now in the yards here ready to proceed at once with track-laying to Edmonton, 130 miles west of the town.
The Pioneer track-laying machine is being overhauled and will be in readiness for the work when the track has been laid on the long trestle at the other end of the bridge. This has to be done by hand labor.
Everything will be in readiness for the crossing of the first engine on Tuesday next.
It is expected a number from town will be at the bridge on that day to give a lusty cheer as the the locomotive starts across, and again upon the completion of the journey.
Wainwright can see ahead for Edmonton appears so much nearer.
The bridge was commenced about a year ago when the concrete foundations were started. Fortunately no difficutly was experienced in getting satisfactory footings so the whole of the piers were got in good shape and in quick time.
The Canadian Bridge Company of Walkerville, Ont. proceeded unceasingly with the steel work, so that by the time the concrete set they had some material on the ground ready for erection.
There are 54 spans, the longest being about 150 feet, its greatest height is 184 feet above the river. At each end there was constructed concrete abutments or retaining walls which support the compound girders, on the land-side earth has been dumped up to level of the grade.
All other supports, that is trestles, are steel, of lattice construction, the members of which came to hand singly, and were rivetted together by an atmospheric hammer.
They were lifted by a powerful travelling crane onto flat cars and they were then run out to a goliath crane which was erected on a wide track of about 14 guage.
The outreach of this was such as would permit it to take hold of the trestle and lower them down to the piers prepared for their reception.
When those had been rigidly secured, another length of main girder was slipped along and under the great crane, which picked it up and placed it on the trestles. Permanent ties were put down, further rails laid and the operation repeated.
Immediately over the river, false or temproary wood work had to be erected. Directly this was done progress was more rapid and Mr. Pretty, the engineer in charge had the satisfaction of making better progress than had been anticipated.
The Goliath crane is being dismantled and a start being made to lay permanent track.