Bird
Rest in Peace
Harv, do you reckon Alan will get the steel bought before prices go out of sight? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Another Bridge Post
- Thread starter Alan L.
- Start date
- Views: 4183
Sorry for the loss of sleep, Harv. I've lost some too. I just hope you guys don't forget about me. My wife is really excited about this bridge project. I'll lose some flesh if it doesn't get done one way or another.
Oops... back to the grindstone....... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Oops... back to the grindstone....... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
rotr
Bronze Member
Have you given any thought to used telephone poles? I see the poles are going for around $1-$2 /ft.
If serious weight is not going to be a problem, lay 6-8 poles side-by, sheath the top w/ 1" treated plywood and trim the edges.
If serious weight is not going to be a problem, lay 6-8 poles side-by, sheath the top w/ 1" treated plywood and trim the edges.
Alan, I also live in TX, and have a creek that could double as your own...except mine floods pretty heavily at least 1-2 times each spring. The goal is for the bridge to carry my tractor and a heavy impliment/trailer...but it has to also pass my wifes visual appearance meter.
Similar to rotr's suggestion, I bought 10 used utility poles (each ~20 feet for a cost of $0.50/ft). I'll probably try to make a good solid base starting about 6 feet back from each side of the bank to cross a section that's 8 foot wide. I'm still debating about the width and exact style...but I think I will probably go with landscaping timbers for the decking. I've thought about the treated ply, but I want it to be tied together very well to withstand the flash-flooding that San Antonio creeks are known for.
The flooding is actually one of the main things that detered me from using steel (other than cost). With steel tubing, the shape is absolutely critical to its strength to resist sagging/folding across a span, and I felt that all the garbage the floods would rush against the structure would degrade the steel tubing's strength much quicker than the utility pole's...I know that properly sized/thicknessed tubes would stand up, but I don't think I could afford them...not to mention I don't have the ace welding skills of wroghtn_harv down here /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Sam
Similar to rotr's suggestion, I bought 10 used utility poles (each ~20 feet for a cost of $0.50/ft). I'll probably try to make a good solid base starting about 6 feet back from each side of the bank to cross a section that's 8 foot wide. I'm still debating about the width and exact style...but I think I will probably go with landscaping timbers for the decking. I've thought about the treated ply, but I want it to be tied together very well to withstand the flash-flooding that San Antonio creeks are known for.
The flooding is actually one of the main things that detered me from using steel (other than cost). With steel tubing, the shape is absolutely critical to its strength to resist sagging/folding across a span, and I felt that all the garbage the floods would rush against the structure would degrade the steel tubing's strength much quicker than the utility pole's...I know that properly sized/thicknessed tubes would stand up, but I don't think I could afford them...not to mention I don't have the ace welding skills of wroghtn_harv down here /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Sam
I tried to find some utility poles once and didn't have any luck around here. As long as I have Harv interested I think I'm sticking to the steel plan for now. The water will go over the bridge once or twice a year, but won't stay up more than a few hours at a time. It hasn't been over the banks in several months now, but only because our rainfall is behind. About a 4 or 5 inch rain will do the trick.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I tried to find some utility poles once and didn't have any luck around here. )</font>
Alan,
I think you have all the mixin's for steel to work out the best, but should you want used utility poles in the future, contact your power company. In my case City Public Service; they have one day every 3 months when you put in your order (length and quantity up to 30), and they fulfill the order over the next three months as poles become available.
Just saw an interesting statistic that Texas has more utility poles than any other state...and more than most countries. Unfortunately, the place I saw it was a site dedicated to informing people of the dangers of these "Poison Poles"...all the preservatives and what not.
Sam
Alan,
I think you have all the mixin's for steel to work out the best, but should you want used utility poles in the future, contact your power company. In my case City Public Service; they have one day every 3 months when you put in your order (length and quantity up to 30), and they fulfill the order over the next three months as poles become available.
Just saw an interesting statistic that Texas has more utility poles than any other state...and more than most countries. Unfortunately, the place I saw it was a site dedicated to informing people of the dangers of these "Poison Poles"...all the preservatives and what not.
Sam
wroughtn_harv
Super Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have been checking on prices, and right now I think it is doable. Some say they might go down soon.lk)</font>
I think they're dreaming in technicolor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The reason the price has went up is China is buying all the steel they can. They are doing this because they're allowing their citizens to own property and engage in private enterprise. Their capacity to mine ore will not grow over night. And they are just now starting to expand their economy.
We are going to have to compete with them for resources. Just imagine taking the Beverly Hillbillies into the city and then outfitting them, cars, refrigerators, televisions, washers, dryers, etc. That's what the largest nation in the world is facing.
Think about infrastructure, sewer, water, highways, bridges, so on.
The price of steel isn't going to come down. It's going to go up. I think we're going to find dirt and steel are commodities that they can't make enough of to meet demand. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I think they're dreaming in technicolor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The reason the price has went up is China is buying all the steel they can. They are doing this because they're allowing their citizens to own property and engage in private enterprise. Their capacity to mine ore will not grow over night. And they are just now starting to expand their economy.
We are going to have to compete with them for resources. Just imagine taking the Beverly Hillbillies into the city and then outfitting them, cars, refrigerators, televisions, washers, dryers, etc. That's what the largest nation in the world is facing.
Think about infrastructure, sewer, water, highways, bridges, so on.
The price of steel isn't going to come down. It's going to go up. I think we're going to find dirt and steel are commodities that they can't make enough of to meet demand. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Bird
Rest in Peace
What's happened to the bridge project?
wroughtn_harv
Super Member
You got me Bird. I haven't heard anything from Alan in awhile.