I need a new BRIDGE!!!

[rsewill]

Thanks for the pics.

[Rowdy Raven]

Well folks, we have a bridge! This past week the contractor made it to the river and in less than a day we had a bridge installed across the river. The contractor brought a large excavator with him to install the 60' flatcar. In just a few hours he had unloaded the flatcar, placed it across the river, dug the footings, installed the H Beams, and poured the 30 yards of concrete. What a day, it really went well and everyone was really pleased with the end result. Next is the re-decking project. We are going to use Marston mats which will be bolted to the superstructure of the the flatcar.

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[Tractor Seabee]

Well folks, we have a bridge! This past week the contractor made it to the river and in less than a day we had a bridge installed across the river. The contractor brought a large excavator with him to install the 60' flatcar. In just a few hours he had unloaded the flatcar, placed it across the river, dug the footings, installed the H Beams, and poured the 30 yards of concrete. What a day, it really went well and everyone was really pleased with the end result. Next is the re-decking project. We are going to use Marston mats which will be bolted to the superstructure of the the flatcar.

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Rowdy,

This thread has gone a long ways since you/we first started back when. I appreciate you taking time to consider my recommendation. I am real pleased it turnrd out well for you, now I can relate to two successful uses of flat cars for bridges. It really looks good now it is finished and portends to give you long and faithfull service. Take a long look at the Marston matting idea, that stuff is fairly thin and has a tendency to bow both directions under load. It was only emgineered for one-time and very short term uses. The military always abandond it in place. We used it in Vietnam and a few trips over it by tanks and trucks and it was scrap iron.

Ron

[kebo]

Nice looking bridge!! Glad you got it in place with no trouble, and ready for the decking now. I hope this bridge lasts as long as, or even longer than the original bridge. That way, you all can let your grandkids deal with replacing it next time around lol!

[mjw357]

Looks good! Are you going to cut those pilings off flush with the bridge deck, or leave them stick up?

[Rowdy Raven]

Thanks folks, I really appreciate your input and advice with this project. We are probably going to cut the pilings off in the weeks ahead as we get the decking in place. More pics soon!

[vtsnowedin]

Rowdy,

This thread has gone a long ways since you/we first started back when. I appreciate you taking time to consider my recommendation. I am real pleased it turnrd out well for you, now I can relate to two successful uses of flat cars for bridges. It really looks good now it is finished and portends to give you long and faithfull service. Take a long look at the Marston matting idea, that stuff is fairly thin and has a tendency to bow both directions under load. It was only emgineered for one-time and very short term uses. The military always abandond it in place. We used it in Vietnam and a few trips over it by tanks and trucks and it was scrap iron.

Ron

I'm a late comer to this thread and I have to say you have done a great job of researching your options and executing a good workable solution. I expect that you will end up with wood decking for now as that is the cheapest that will serve and you're most likely already at the bottom of your check book. When that wood, or the military mats wears out you might want to consider precasting four inch thick concrete deck planks with wire mesh reinforcement. A flat piece of ground with a sheet of poly on it will serve as a bottom form and 2x4s and some pins will form the edges. Cast in some lifting loops and make then as wide as your largest tractor loader can handle safely. A four foot by ten foot by four inch thick plank would weight less then a ton and you could make 72 feet of them from a load of concrete. Leave some re-bar or mesh sticking up out of them on the edges and cast a curb with a couple of lines of no. 4 re bar down each side to tie them all together.
Just a suggestion. I hope your bridge serves you well for decades and again nicely done.

[MarkV]

Thanks for the update. Looks like you have done a great job.

MarkV

[Hollow]

Looks great, congratulations! However I would strongly suggest not using marston mats. They are made to spread the weight of something in all directions, not bridging from one cross member to the next. If you want to use metal I would suggest a bar grating.

[crazyal]

My step brother used PT 2x4 standing on edge for decking. It's been 15 years now and it's as strong today as it was the day he built it. He bought up as many 2nds as he could find and just nailed them all together. What ever you do just make sure it's fastened well to the steel.