Plate IV, Fig. 1.—Typical Reinforced Concrete Girder Bridge, Estanzuela Aqueduct.
Plate IV, Fig. 2.—Elliptical Arch Bridge Carrying Estanzuela Aqueduct.
Bridges.—The line as laid out passed over many gulches and dry arroyos, and these were crossed with reinforced concrete bridges of varying spans and heights, two being shown on Plate IV.
These bridges were formed of continuous horizontal girders, 1.10 m. deep and 1 m. wide, with a cantilever overhang at the abutments, varying in length from 1 to 2 m., so as to avoid settlement between the pipes and the bridges. The bottom reinforcement consisted of from 2 to 6 twisted bars of mild steel, varying in different spans from 12.7 to 19 mm. (1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in.) in diameter. The turned up bars were 281⁄2 mm. (11⁄8 in.) in diameter; they were placed on either side, carried over the upper part of the beams, and continued along the end for the
overhanging part of the girder. These bars, when not obtainable of the full length, were spliced with a lap of 1.2 m. with No. 6 galvanized-steel wire. The vertical stirrups were 4.7 by 25.4 mm. (3⁄16 by 1 in.), of mild steel; they were equally spaced 30.5 cm. (12 in.) apart, and carried all around the girders, lapping at the center about 15 cm. (6 in.), all the steel being carefully wired together before placing the concrete.
The general type of the piers and abutments is shown by Fig. 1, Plate IV, and varies in height with practically every bridge, the foundations in every case resting on hard rock. The concrete for the girders was a 1:21⁄2:31⁄2 mixture, the crushed stone used having all passed a mesh of 19 mm. (3⁄4 in.). The piers were of 1:31⁄2:51⁄2 concrete, and heavy "displacers" were embedded within them.
The concrete was placed after the pipes had been laid through the form by the pipe contractor, the joints being kept clear of the bottom to the required distance by small moulded concrete blocks. The tops of the girders were moulded to a slightly segmental form. The bridges were all kept watered for about 15 days, and the forms were not struck for 28 days after placing. At Station 13.4 the pipes were carried over a picturesque arroyo on an elliptical arched bridge (Fig. 2, Plate IV) of 11 m. clear span.
The abutments of all bridges were protected by rubble walls in cement mortar carried up 60 cm. above the tops of the girders.