How strong is my wooden bridge?

[newbury]

Drew -
tm5_600

But the guys I used to work with would just drop an AVLB across it and roll on

 

[hosspuller]

I see two issues.
1... The edges of the decking are not supported. A significant load like tire will break the deck boards.

2... The span could be reinforced with temporary piers in the center. Cut the span in half and the strength is more than doubled.

... replacement. replace the bridge with a culvert. Much less cost than a bridge.

 

[Pixguy]

I see two issues.
1... The edges of the decking are not supported. A significant load like tire will break the deck boards.

2... The span could be reinforced with temporary piers in the center. Cut the span in half and the strength is more than doubled.

... replacement. replace the bridge with a culvert. Much less cost than a bridge.

:thumbsup:

 

[2manyrocks]

culvert adequately sized to carry off the largest water flow that goes through the ditch.

 

[farmer2009]

replace the bridge with a culvert. Much less cost than a bridge.

Yes. But culverts require a lot more maintenance than bridges as they will clog in a woodland environment. Bridges are intended to be self cleaning.

Drew, If it was me. I would find a sawmill. If they can use your logs great if not still cheaper than buying dimension lumber. Get some 6x6 red cedar(not white). To lay parallel with the creek. Place some 6x10 or 8x10 oak on top to span the creek and replank. One oak beam under each wheel and one about 2feet from edges or atleast 3. Also around here if the county thinks a bridge isn't strong enough they then turn 3x planking 90* and add a second layer over the tire tracks.

Like I said what I would do if it was mine. Have driven heavier equipment over less that's for sure.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Is the ditch wet? From the pic it looks dry. I would dig the edges back some and put a road right thru the ditch. Next choice would be a culvert.

 

[5030]

I'd drive through that swale in my M9 Kubota in FWA in a hearbeat.

 

[Tororider]

I like the idea of a culvert, or buy a heavy duty trailer that's long enough to span the gap and use that as a bridge. Or buy a shipping container and cut the other end out and you have a covered bridge.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Dude, it's a ditch. Set the old bridge on fire. When it's gone, roll a 20' plastic culvert into the ditch, cover it with dirt and a little gravel, and forget it.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I would try to find a tandem truck frame. They can be bought a truck wreckers for the price of scrap steel. Pour a cement pad at each end about 6 inches thick with some heavy rebar (1/2 - 5/8ths) in the cement. Fasten the frame to the cement pads. Buy some 12 foot 3x12 bridge planking. Cut those in half and fasten the planking to the frame. This would not be wide enough for a vehicle but would easily handle your Kubota. If you need to cross with a vehicle then use an old flat deck trailer with the running gear removed. No need to even pour cement then. Just a good bed of rock for drainage under each end and you should be good to go.

This is the cheapest way I can think of that is safe. It won't look the prettiest, but you didn't ask for pretty, you asked for a bridge. If you have enough money to do the bridge with I beams underneath that would look the best and last the longest.

Just my not so humble opinion.