NE of the most interesting things that the 
traveler sees from the train-window as he 
journeys from Boston to Manchester-by-the- 
Sea, is a big new concrete bridge built over 
the tracks at Norton’s Point, a part of West 
Manchester. Extending more than 350 feet in a long 
graceful span, made up of several arches, the 
bridge is highly or- 
namental. At night, 
when it is lighted up, 
it appears like some 
fairy creation, so grace- 
ful are its lines. 
Despite the fact that 
the structure cost up- 
wards of $30,000, it is 
private property. Ever 
since summer residences 
have made their home 
on the point, the rail- 
road crossing has been 
a problem. There is no 
road that leads to the 
point without crossing 
the tracks and witi 
fast expresses running 
every hour, the early 
residents found a grade 
crossing much too dan- 
gerous an experiment. So they built a bridge. For 
twenty-five years the structure stood and, by means of 
continuous repairs, was kept in good condition. About 
a year ago, however, residents on the point decided 
something more elaborate was needed and the result 
was that W. A. Tucker, George H. Hood and E. C. Fitch 
joined in finaneing the building of this new structure. 
After looking about for some time for a contractor, 
they finally chose the contracting firm of T. J. Hynes 
& Son of Wales, Mass., and a gang of men was put to 
work early last September. The work was rushed all 
winter long and the bridge was turned over to its 
owners, complete in every detail, about two weeks ago. 
The bridge measures 387 feet in length, with a 
eross width of 24 feet and a driveway of 20 feet. Built 
of concrete, it has five reinforced arches of from 30 
Jonesfoto, Manchester 
Approach to the Bridge from the Main Highway 
to 39 feet clear span. The main girder is a solid strip 
of concrete 49 feet long, making it the largest girder 
built under the patents on which the structure is de- 
signed. It is the largest concrete highway bridge in 
Massachusetts and its builders say it will still be stand- 
ing in good condition at the end of 500 years. 
While the whole bridge is an impressive piece of 
work, the balustrades 
that skirt the driveway 
are particularly inter- 
esting. They are mod- 
eled in sections with 
broad spindles and 
heavy stone piers mark- 
ing the sections. At 
regular intervals, on 
both sides of the bridge 
are lamp-posts of elas-. 
sic design surmounted 
by large electric bulbs, 
which are lighted by a 
switch in the garage of 
one of the owners. The 
driveways are of crush- 
ed stone, heavily rolled. 
The bridge was de- 
signed by Walter M. 
Denman, of Spring- 
field, Massachusetts, 
associate engineer in New England of the Luten En- 
gineering Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, under 
whose patents the bridge was built. In matter of grade, 
the bridge is remarkable. Most bridges of this kind 
are built level. But this one has a grade of 10 per cent., 
which is considered a very steep one for that kind of 
a bridge. Yet the grade is so constructed that it is ne- 
gotiated with the least possible expenditure of energy. 
T. J. Hynes & Son are building quite a number of 
such structures throughout New England. Just at 
present the firm is constructing a big dam and power- 
house at Turner Falls, Mass. In the bridge at Norton's 
Point, as well as in many of its other works, it used the 
Knickerbocker brand of Portland cement. The bridge 
required 1,500 ecu. ft., or about 6,000 bags of cement, 
while 75,000 ft. lumber was used in temporary seaftolding. 
View of New Concrete Bridge, Showing Graceful Arches and the Incline 
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