build a bridge, get over it

[MRHURT]

The following photos are of my bridge building project, I am trying to build a house on my property and i need a bridge across the creek to gain access to my new house. The wife's GEO does not like low water creek crossings. The first photo gives a idea of where i am placing the bridge. The road now goes off to the left and though a low water crossing to the field.

 

[MRHURT]

The next thing i did was proceed dig up the creek to solid rock. As you can see i was doing this project this past summer when virginia was in the middle of the drought.

 

[MRHURT]

After digging like crazy with a rented mini excavator, which i have to say no home should be without and mini excavator. Ha Ha. I built my forms out of plywood and 2x4s, i used threaded rod to keep the form from pulling apart once i put the concrete in. as you can see in the left bottom corner of the picture, i had a gas powered pump to keep the water out of the hole. we might have been in a drought, but i found plenty of water in the creek bottom.

 

[MRHURT]

This view shows the guts of my forms, you can see the threaded rod and concrete wire, if you look real close you can see the bolts i used to tie the i-beams to the concrete. i added to them by welding small block chevy head bolts to the end of the threaded rod at a 90 degree angle. i the back ground is my ton truck that i used to haul the forms to the creek after making them in my garage.

 

[MRHURT]

view from across the creek, shows the hole on the other side.

 

[Gatorboy]

Keep the photos coming. I have a similar bridge I have to build -- I don't know the first thing about building one, so seeing it done sure helps.

 

[Green_in_MI]

Did you get any advice on the construction of your bridge? Footings settlement and potential overflow due to restricted flow are a couple of problems you could have. An hours worth of an engineering consultant could save you thousands down the road. Good luck.

 

[MRHURT]

another view showing my hot rod in the background

 

[MRHURT]

yes, i did have some help in design of the bridge, another picture of concrete in the form

 

[MRHURT]

the wife had to add her personal touch to the bridge