The contract price for the concrete work of these bridges, the Company furnishing the steel and cement, was 14 pesos per cu. m., and for placing reinforcing steel 35 pesos per metric ton (2,204 lb.).
There are 49 single-span bridges, the larger spans being 9.10 m.; 8 two-span, and 11 three-span bridges, their total length, including the overhang, amounting to 870.50 m., or 41⁄2% of the whole length of aqueduct.
Concrete Aprons.—At 76 points there were small depressions which did not necessitate the construction of bridges, and at these places the pipes were encased in blocks of concrete carried up the hillside in the form of an apron having small abutment walls from 1 to 2 m. apart. This also served to protect the pipes from scouring action during rainstorms. At the upper end of the line, near the intake, the pipe had to be protected by concrete continuously for a distance of about 300 m., in order to prevent damage from falling rocks.
Plate V, Fig. 1.—Ventilating Column and Entrance Manhole, Estanzuela Aqueduct.
Ventilators and Manholes.—Along the route of the concrete pipe there are 27 ventilators, one of which, together with an entrance manhole, is shown by Fig. 1, Plate V. They consisted of simple concrete columns, 3.35 m. high, above the ground line, the interior of the shafts being formed of fire-clay pipes, 15 cm. (6 in.) in diameter. At each ventilator the pipe was cut and a block of concrete, the width of the trench, filled in as a foundation. Entrance manholes were also placed at 49 points, at 27 of which they immediately adjoined the ventilating columns.
Estanzuela Tunnel.—At 1,560 m. from the intake at Estanzuela, the conduit is laid through a tunnel 281 m. long. The tunnel was driven through hard calcareous strata from the open cuttings at each end. The inner dimensions were trimmed to approximately 2 m. high and 11⁄2 m. wide. At the ends of the tunnel the rock was moderately easy to take out, but the inner section was very hard and difficult to blast. Ordinary hand drilling was adopted, and the actual cost of driving varied from 28 pesos per lin. m. at the ends to 50 pesos in the center.
The pipes were laid through the tunnel in the ordinary way, and back-filled from the center, so as to give a cover of about 45 cm. above to protect them from falling pieces of shale.
Plate V, Fig. 2.—Placing Concrete Pipes in Forms for Bridge Crossing at North End of Tunnel, Estanzuela Aqueduct.