poland.040202

Poland Bridge Stands on its Own [WGN 45-08-02]. Poland Bridge Stands on its Own with 15.5" of camber. Photo by Joe Nelson, February 2, 2004 February 2, 2004 - Last Friday noon, January 30, the wooden blocks supporting the Poland bridge on the steel-girder scaffolding were removed. From that time George Washington Holmes' trusses are again supporting the structure just as he meant them to 117 years ago.       Before the blocks were removed and the bridge was supported by the steel scaffolding, the camber of the span measured 17 inches. According to William Flanders, VAOT site engineer, When the blocks were removed and the trusses assumed the weight of the span, the camber was reduced by only one and one-half inches, to 15.5 inches. Flanders will continue to monitor the camber by means of a transit as the timbers continue to settle under the weight of the structure, and as the dead load of curbing, running planks and siding are added to the bridge..        Prior to the reconstruction the camber was a negative 18 inches.        Currently, the curbing is being assembled on the new laminated bridge floor -- the curbing will consist of a 4x6 spruce rail supported at intervals on two stacked 4x6 blocks of treated wood, the assembly bolted through the floor. Next, the oak running planks will be installed over the laminated floor followed by the addition of the siding. The roofing will go on last when the bridge dimensions have stabilized.        The steel scaffolding is scheduled for removal this week. A view of the new Burr-arch end-segments at the south end of the bridge, down-stream side. Photo by Joe Nelson, February 2, 2004 A view of the interior of the bridge with the reconstructed structure. Photo by Joe Nelson, February 2, 2004

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