Work on historic Trenton Bridge Begins
Scott M. Kozel
"Work on historic Trenton bridge begins"
Associated Press
Tue, Sep. 07, 2004
'TRENTON - Work was scheduled to begin today on a bridge project that
will include replacing the city's famous "Trenton Makes, the World
Takes" sign. The bridge's lane connecting Trenton to Morrisville, Pa.,
will be closed.'
'Traffic from both directions will be squeezed into the bridge's New
Jersey-bound lane during the first phase of the project, which is to
last until mid-December, according to the Delaware River Joint Toll
Bridge Commission. No work then will be done until the end of February,
and traffic will be allowed in both directions during that period.'
'During the second phase, expected to last from March until May, the
bridge lane leading into Trenton will be closed. The "Trenton Makes"
sign is expected to be replaced with a new one featuring the same
slogan. The sign is expected to be in place by May. The landmark sign
will be replaced with a more modern version, the commission said.'
'It is looking for corporate sponsorship to cover the $395,000 cost of a
new sign. The bridge was built in 1928, but its substructure dates to
1874. As part of the project, workers will clean and paint the
structural steel above the bridge deck, along with the pedestrian
sidewalk railing.'
[end of article]
--
Scott M. Kozel Highway and Transportation History Websites
Virginia/Maryland/Washington, D.C. http://www.roadstothefuture.com
Philadelphia and Delaware Valley http://www.pennways.com
Steve
Sounds like this winter will be my time to go cover the Trenton Freeway.
--
Steve
GO YANKEES!
Civil Engineering (Course 1) at MIT
Jeff nor Lisa
> Associated Press
> 'TRENTON - Work was scheduled to begin today on a bridge project that
> will include replacing the city's famous "Trenton Makes, the World
> Takes" sign. The bridge's lane connecting Trenton to Morrisville, Pa.,
> will be closed.'
> 'Traffic from both directions will be squeezed into the bridge's New
> Jersey-bound lane during the first phase of the project ...
The bridge used to be four lanes (2 each direction). They
put weight restrictions on it and made it one lane in each
direction.
While there is still a little manufacturing in Trenton, the
main thing the town makes now are govt regulations.
FWIW, the NJDOT HQ isn't even in Trenton, but in suburban Ewing.
Dave Simpson
> 'TRENTON - Work was scheduled to begin today on a bridge project that
> will include replacing the city's famous "Trenton Makes, the World
> Takes" sign. The bridge's lane connecting Trenton to Morrisville, Pa.,
> will be closed.'
I've been there and seen that sign. Hopefully it wil be saved. Put
it on the new bridge, put it in a city park, put it somewhere, if only
in a museum (which is the most truthful disposition).
Dave Simpson
Jeff nor Lisa
"New Bridge"? There isn't any new bridge, just an overhaul of
the existing bridge.
The sign itself is not very old, only 15-20 years, having replaced
an earlier sign. IIRC, the earlier sign, also red lighted, lasted
much longer.
Dave Simpson
> "New Bridge"? There isn't any new bridge, just an overhaul of
> the existing bridge.
No single-tower self-anchored suspension span and "white line across
the river"? (* grin *) Cheap shot -- sorry.
> The sign itself is not very old, only 15-20 years, having replaced
> an earlier sign. IIRC, the earlier sign, also red lighted, lasted
> much longer.
Are they going to keep the sign there?
Dave Simpson
Jeff
The current sign uses neon tubing, and lights red. A picture of it is
on this webpage: http://www.capitalcentury.com/1911.html . The sign
itself is not very historic or significant, however the message itself
tells of how in times past Trenton was a very important city in the
manufacturing of steel and other products. The sign has been replaced
before, and while may hold a little value, again, it's not it's age,
but it's message.
Jeff nor Lisa
> Are they going to keep the sign there?
It will be replaced by a new sign.
There was some talk of the new sign being fancy with
blinking lights and the like, but I don't know what was
finally decided upon.
People can be funny about signs. Atop the landmark PSFS building in
Philadelphia is a huge sign "PSFS". The problem is that PSFS no longer
exists and the building is now used and owned by someone else. However,
the sign was deemed a landmark and ordered to remain. That is ridiculous.
I could understand if the current building owners put up their own
sign, but using the same lettering style as the existing sign (it does
complement the building architecture).
Dave Simpson
it's fun to have a destination that's of interest, not merely a goal,
too.
It was written:
> People can be funny about signs. Atop the landmark PSFS building in
> Philadelphia is a huge sign "PSFS". The problem is that PSFS no longer
> exists and the building is now used and owned by someone else. However,
> the sign was deemed a landmark and ordered to remain. ...
http://www.greatbuildings.com/cgi-bin/gbi.cgi/PSFS_Building.html/cid_3136154.gbi
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/DISPLAY/chrysler/psfs.html
http://cweb.snip.net/trainstowers/photos.htm
http://www.geocities.com/ahris2/phila_08252001.html
http://www.emporis.com/en/il/pc/?id=117951&aid=8
Jeff or Lisa: HAVE YOU EVER VISITED AND EXPLORED THAT BUILDING?
It has been kept in fine shape and once you're done ogling the
ground floor areas, go upstairs and see several of the various floors.
That building features Bauhaus or some other Modernist style
architecture (I went there with a friend who is very knowledgeable of
architecture; I forgot what she said the style was) and seriously, in
many parts of it it looks like it should be called the "Nazi Party
Building" (1930s-40s Germany). It also could be a model for a new
Wolfenstein video game derivative. It's like stepping into a time
machine in many parts of that building!
(Interior as well as exterior photos can be found here.)
http://app.outreach.psu.edu/erappa/default.asp?WhichPage=Accommodations
http://www.stoneworld.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,4046,63648,00.html
http://www.bnee.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=albun29
http://www.bnee.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=albun30
http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/philadelphia/features.asp
"Take the Tour"
http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/philadelphia/tour.asp
http://loews-philadelphia.visit-philadelphia.com/
Loews Philadelphia Hotel was awarded two historic preservation awards
for the rehabilitation of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society (PSFS)
Building. Preservation Alliance of Philadelphia recognized Loews
Hotels and Bower Lewis Thrower Architects with a 2001 Grand Jury Award
for the renovation and restoration of the PSFS Building.
http://www.loewshotels.com/aboutus_pressroom_full.asp?press_id=35&hid=12
The opening exhibition at the Yale School of Architecture this coming
academic year will showcase the landmark Philadelphia Saving Fund
Society Building (PSFS), an icon of International Style Modernism. An
original show organized and designed by Dean Sakamoto, Director of
Exhibitions at the School of Architecture, "PSFS: Nothing More Modern"
will be the first exhibition to explore the design, construction and
adaptive reuse of this historic building. Custom furniture, archival
photographs, drawings, ephemera and a model are among the artifacts
that will be displayed.
http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2004/08/30/32317.html
Dave Simpson
Dave Simpson
> > Are they going to keep the sign there?
> It will be replaced by a new sign.
>
> There was some talk of the new sign being fancy with
> blinking lights and the like, but I don't know what was
> finally decided upon.
Maybe it'll be the same size and style, same words, just with LEDs.
Dave Simpson