Bridge Questions

[tlj87]

I'd let the foot bridge remain & use large culverts covered with concrete for vehicles. Culverts will be the cheapest and easiest to build & done right they look pretty cool.

Keep in mind if/when you have such a big flood that it floods that field you will have no approach to a raised traditional type bridge anyway. We have a creek to cross to our place, 35' bank to bank. The country replaced our old steel I-beam bridge with a new concrete one a few years ago. The pasture will go under water 2-3' deep one one side so we just have to sit back and wait until the water recedes, usually half a day or so.

Very true about not being able to use the bridge during very high water events. The previous owner shot this footage in, I believe, 1997. This is the highest I have ever seen the creek. And It Rained for 40 Days and 40 Nights - YouTube

Luckily, there is another way out that does not involve crossing the creek, it just takes a while to walk or drive and is impractical for routine access.

 

[dave1949]

Yikes! I am amazed the foot bridge survived that. And I was thinking from your earlier pics that the stream never got too wild--judging from the banks LOL.

 

[EddieWalker]

Having seen that video, I have to say that you realy might want to reconsider living there, or putting any money into a bridge. It will flood like that again. That is guranteed. Do you want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something that isn't going to last? How many times will that happen in your lifetime? It would be foolish to think it's not going to happen, so how many times will you build a bridge or a road to the bridge?

There is a place in CA not to far from where I'm from called the Russian River. Every coupld of years the river floods and destroys a bunch of houses. They make the news, they get all sorts of sympathy, and they all rebuild again. Then it happens again and the cycle continues. It's either a mind set, or just plain crazy, but some places you just shouldn't live or invest large somes of money.

Eddie

 

[dave1949]

Yeah, I noticed that the flood water looked a bit close for comfort to the open-sided shed, which I guess is on one side of the existing house. Is the house in a flood plain zone for insurance purposes? I suppose you don't have to worry about ice dams in a stream, that would add even more risk.

If more extreme weather events are part of the future, then the likelihood of a repeat is increased, besides noting that what happens once, will probably happen again.

It is a very pretty setting.

 

[MJ's Design guide]

How did I become an expert on this question is beyond me, but you need a structural and a civil engineer. And you are looking at a major expense.

 

[MotorSeven]

Yep, that looks exactly like my pasture(s) after heavy rains. The bridge would become an island, so it might as well be culverts submerged during those flood times.

 

[tlj87]

Yeah, I noticed that the flood water looked a bit close for comfort to the open-sided shed, which I guess is on one side of the existing house. Is the house in a flood plain zone for insurance purposes? I suppose you don't have to worry about ice dams in a stream, that would add even more risk.

If more extreme weather events are part of the future, then the likelihood of a repeat is increased, besides noting that what happens once, will probably happen again.

It is a very pretty setting.

The "shed" in the video (a 4-bunk cabin w/ kitchen on stilts) is on the same side of the creek as all the buildings. All other buildings, including the "house" and barn are not in the floodplain. There is about a 60' difference in elevation between the creek and the rest of the structures.

Fortunately, there has never been any damage to the bridge (inc. pilings) due to flooding. I am not saying that it can't/won't happen. For the most part, the creek bank is stable along the stream (there is about 2/3 mi of the creek on my property). Unfortunately, the previous owner removed a lot of the shrubs, trees etc. along the banks which we have been replanting with the assistance of the County Conservation District to be proactive in preventing future erosion, improve habitat, etc.

Here is another brief video showing part of the driveway with a glimpse of the 'house'. You can get a better idea of the topography as well as what the ford is like. Driveway - YouTube

 

[dave1949]

The "shed" in the video (a 4-bunk cabin w/ kitchen on stilts) is on the same side of the creek as all the buildings. All other buildings, including the "house" and barn are not in the floodplain. There is about a 60' difference in elevation between the creek and the rest of the structures.

Fortunately, there has never been any damage to the bridge (inc. pilings) due to flooding. I am not saying that it can't/won't happen. For the most part, the creek bank is stable along the stream (there is about 2/3 mi of the creek on my property). Unfortunately, the previous owner removed a lot of the shrubs, trees etc. along the banks which we have been replanting with the assistance of the County Conservation District to be proactive in preventing future erosion, improve habitat, etc.

Here is another brief video showing part of the driveway with a glimpse of the 'house'. You can get a better idea of the topography as well as what the ford is like. Driveway - YouTube

Ah, I see. That leaves just the stream to worry about and not the house at all. Beautiful setting. I'm sure you will figure out the best crossing method. Good on you for replanting.

 

[medic0648]

Using a flat railcar with proper abutments and tied down. Would work well and can be surprisingly economical considering the 100k+ lb capacity of them as well as being 8-9ft wide. There is a thread on here where someone I think in pa or wv used 1.

 

[CurlyDave]

Looking at that video was really an eye-opener for me.

You not only need a bridge, abutments, and approaches, you also need a plan for inspection of these structures after a high water event.

The bridge may look perfectly sound after a flood, but could collapse under you & your vehicle from hidden damage. Be sure your engineer considers this problem also.

I strongly suspect you could put in a new well and septic on the road side of the stream for much less investment than a proper bridge will cost. A new house will be nicer and less costly than renovating the existing one.