This is the view from the same spot as the first picture in this series and after I had moved approximately 500 cubic yards of dirt and too many large rocks to count. All that is left to do is to bring in some road base, and crushed gravel and too plant grass to control errosion. I tried to plant rye grass in the late fall but we had a drought all winter and it did not grow.
Bridge Project Status
- Thread starter centex
- Start date
- Views: 2843
This is a downstream view of the completed bridge. While the bridge was used as a dam, the water flowing over it filled in the underside of the bridge with sand and dirt so I had to dig that out. I had to do this mostly by hand as I had 6 feet of head room under the bridge and the sand was full of large roots from the trees that had grown up on the downsteam side. I used the tractor to haul out the dirt and to help pull the roots.
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fishman
Veteran Member
Don, removing that concrete wall looks like it took a LOT of work. The finished product looks great. Hope we don't get a 20 incher like a few years back and wipe it out.
You are a persistent son-of-a-gun that's for sure! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
You are a persistent son-of-a-gun that's for sure! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
BillG_in_TX
Veteran Member
Don,
That was quite a project! And it looks great now that it's finished.
As I recall, you're on North Rocky Creek near where it crosses US183, right? I noticed the last time I went down that stretch of road that there is quite a drop in elevation going down to that creek crossing. I'll bet you get a LOT of water moving through there in the springtime. It's no wonder you had such a big washout problem. Is that an old highway bridge?
That was quite a project! And it looks great now that it's finished.
As I recall, you're on North Rocky Creek near where it crosses US183, right? I noticed the last time I went down that stretch of road that there is quite a drop in elevation going down to that creek crossing. I'll bet you get a LOT of water moving through there in the springtime. It's no wonder you had such a big washout problem. Is that an old highway bridge?
raynman
Silver Member
Don,
Great Job, it looks great! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Great Job, it looks great! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
RobS
Super Member
That's got to the be most impressive TBN bridge so far. Nice work and quite a lot of it! What was the bridge taken out of service previously?
Thanks for all the pictures /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Thanks for all the pictures /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Nasty135
Veteran Member
WOW that is quite a JOB!! But it has to be worth it!!! And not too mention the feeling of accomplishment!!! Being able to access your property from across an abandon Concrete bridge ,AWSOME JOB!! and well done... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I have a natural stream feeding through my property that has 4'-5' high banks on either side feeding into a 2 acre community pond and am considering damning about 3' with 2 overflow drains at different levels and building a bridge to cross over it ?? It would be a fun project!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Once again great job!!!
I have a natural stream feeding through my property that has 4'-5' high banks on either side feeding into a 2 acre community pond and am considering damning about 3' with 2 overflow drains at different levels and building a bridge to cross over it ?? It would be a fun project!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Once again great job!!!
MarkV
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2000
- Messages
- 5,636
- Location
- Cedartown, Ga and N. Ga mountains
- Tractor
- 1998 Kubota B21, 2005 Kubota L39
Don my dang back hurts just looking at and imagining all the work you went through with that project. Thanks for posting the follow up photo's. I remember the original discussion and have wondered if you were able to get that wall out. Amazing job!
MarkV
MarkV
"As I recall, you're on North Rocky Creek near where it crosses US183, right? "
Yes I am right there where it crosses. In the early 1960's they widened and straightened 183 and built the current bridge. The old bridge on my property was abandoned by the state in 1969 by then Governor Preston Smith (remember him?) and the person who owned the land at that time walled up the bridge to dam up the creek. The creek usually flows at a good pace for 9-10 months a year and in good years it flows all year. It ran good for two years but last year we had a severe drought and it did not rain much at all from last Feb. to this Feb and the creek dried up last July and did not start flowing again until last Monday. The creek takes a U-turn just past my property so when it floods it backs up on my land. It is usually not too bad but every now and again we get an 8 or 9 inch rain and it floods bad. I think the reason for the major washouts though was the constant 9-12 month steady flow of the water over the dam/bridge. Once it starts washing out around the concrete it is just a matter of time until it gets bad. Especially in the Spring when the creek runs fast. The occasional flood just makes it worse. I found big chunks of asphalt from the road a couple of hundred feet downstream so it is clear that the floods do a lot a quick damage. On the positive side the erosion of the creek sides unearthed some prehistoric bones and after just a week of the creek flowing there are already fish in it. They were holding in srping fed holes upstream. I have to buy some more fish soon so I can get back to my main love of fly fishing.
Yes I am right there where it crosses. In the early 1960's they widened and straightened 183 and built the current bridge. The old bridge on my property was abandoned by the state in 1969 by then Governor Preston Smith (remember him?) and the person who owned the land at that time walled up the bridge to dam up the creek. The creek usually flows at a good pace for 9-10 months a year and in good years it flows all year. It ran good for two years but last year we had a severe drought and it did not rain much at all from last Feb. to this Feb and the creek dried up last July and did not start flowing again until last Monday. The creek takes a U-turn just past my property so when it floods it backs up on my land. It is usually not too bad but every now and again we get an 8 or 9 inch rain and it floods bad. I think the reason for the major washouts though was the constant 9-12 month steady flow of the water over the dam/bridge. Once it starts washing out around the concrete it is just a matter of time until it gets bad. Especially in the Spring when the creek runs fast. The occasional flood just makes it worse. I found big chunks of asphalt from the road a couple of hundred feet downstream so it is clear that the floods do a lot a quick damage. On the positive side the erosion of the creek sides unearthed some prehistoric bones and after just a week of the creek flowing there are already fish in it. They were holding in srping fed holes upstream. I have to buy some more fish soon so I can get back to my main love of fly fishing.
