Building 55' Bridge Across Creek - Utility Poles

[Doorman63]

I did my approach with gravel.
poles were sitting on 4x4 PT and the poles were approx 8”.
couple scoops and the transition is nice

 

[civilian]

Or maybe I come down on an angle, keep the stringers the same length, and just rip the decking on an angle.

If your left stringer (when standing on the bridge) is longer than the right one, you can miss the pine tree. The deck boards would be parallel at the ground and would have to be cut as wedges at the bridge edge. At least that is what I see in my mind.

As far as using gravel for the approach like a poster used on his bridge, the OP has too much of a drop from the top of the deck to the ground. Jon

 

[EddieWalker]

I think you are overthinking this. I would lay down some 6x6's like you did for the ends of the bridge where you want the turn to be. Make it level. Then install you beams on top of the blocks. You could keep the entire thing level this way, and just cut each beam to the length it needs to be.

 

[gable74]

I think you are overthinking this. I would lay down some 6x6's like you did for the ends of the bridge where you want the turn to be. Make it level. Then install you beams on top of the blocks. You could keep the entire thing level this way, and just cut each beam to the length it needs to be.

I think you're right. I think I am going to clear some of that tall grass and saplings out of the way, level the area out a little better, and reassess the straight ramp. If I can get away with 10 feet comfortably, that should be more than adequate, even if it is a tad steep.

I made a big mistake by cutting off those cantilevered poles at the end. If I would have cut them on an angle instead of straight across, I would not be in this situation. Not a big deal, because this should work fine, but it would have been a little simpler the other way. Live and learn on my first bridge. .

 

[gable74]

After a few weekends of family stuff and weather too hot to work in the woods, I got a little bit more done today. Having some time to think about a solution to my ramp dilemma, I came up with a simple idea that should work out fine. I ended up straddling the utility poles on each side with some 2x8's and cantilevering them from under the deck boards. Then I just mitered them and the face board at the angle I need for the ramp to point straight up the trail. I will come back with the some 3/4" carriage bolts and through bolt the 2x8's as well. Just have to rip a few deck boards on an angle to wrap up the top. Initial measurements say I should get about a 15' ramp. That will make it about a 2/12 pitch, which should be comfortable walking or riding. Going to rain all day tomorrow, but we really need it so I am not complaining. Hopefully get moving on the actual ramp itself next weekend if the weather holds out.

 

[gable74]

I got a little more time to work on the ramp.

I cut (3) poles roughly 15'-6" and ripped a flat edge down one side.
I mitered and beveled them for the angle of the header board.
Length of the ramp is 15' + the dirt/gravel I will end up putting at the very end to transition up, so I guess it will end up being about 16' - 17' long overall.
I leveled and laid down some flag stone at the end of the ramp for the log stringers to rest on and keep them off the dirt. It will be a very easy pitch to walk/drive.
I tied in the cantilevered 2x8's to the poles using some 3/4" x 16" Galvanized carriage bolts.
I bolted (3) 2" x 2" x 5/16" structural alum. angle to the header for the bottom of each ramp log to rest on.
I bolted (2) 4" x 4" x 5/16" structural alum. angle to the header, where the log and header meet. I then ran a 10" x 1/2" carriage bolt through them to secure everything tight.
I will attach a header to the lower ends of the ramp stringers before I lay the decking down.

That is about it for now. I will begin laying down the ramp decking next weekend if the weather holds out. After that I need to bring the mini-excavator back in to clean up and level out the trail and push some dirt up to the other end of the bridge. Getting close, shooting to be done by end of September. I will continue to update as I make progress.

 

[EddieWalker]

That looks really good. Clean, simple and strong.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Just found this. Nice job.

I’ve been wanting to build a 16 ft bridge over a small creek on my property, just for lawn mower or sxs. However I have a county road next to me, so I just pop out on it, use their culvert crossing, then pop back onto me. Makes it hard to justify me spending money.

 

[gable74]

I see you are also from MD. What part?

 

[deezler]

Looking good! I was just thinking about this project of yours the other day, and wondering if we might see some final, completed pics soon. Do you have all the decking pieces you need to finish the ramp?

 

[gable74]

Looking good! I was just thinking about this project of yours the other day, and wondering if we might see some final, completed pics soon. Do you have all the decking pieces you need to finish the ramp?

Yep, got all the decking I need. I actually just called the mill two days ago to put another order in for the bumper rail lumber. I have decided to cut a straight edge along the sides of the deck and lay down some 4"w x 3"t bumpers on the edge of the bridge and ramp. May go with something a little different down the road but for now I want to just keep it nice and simple. If the weather is not too hot this weekend, I should finish the deck on the ramp. If I do, I will post up some pics.

Funny, because the wildlife has been enjoying it more than me lately...lol. Even had an immature bald eagle taking a bath down there just before I pulled the logs across.

 

[deezler]

Ha! Great critter collection you have there.

 

[ljjhouser]

Excellent Job and great pictures. Amazed about the Eagle - the night picture - is that a Coyote? I am guessing that realigning the approach trail was not an option because of the tree. VERY nice - I think you and your on-camera friends will enjoy that bridge for many years to come. Looks like some of them have been waiting for a bridge. Thanks for all the pictures. I know taking and explaining all them adds to the job. Save those pictures for 30 years down the road. Thanks, Larry

 

[EddieWalker]

I had no idea that a bridge would be such a wildlife magnet!!!! I'm need to build one in front of my deer blind real soon.

 

[gable74]

Excellent Job and great pictures. Amazed about the Eagle - the night picture - is that a Coyote? I am guessing that realigning the approach trail was not an option because of the tree. VERY nice - I think you and your on-camera friends will enjoy that bridge for many years to come. Looks like some of them have been waiting for a bridge. Thanks for all the pictures. I know taking and explaining all them adds to the job. Save those pictures for 30 years down the road. Thanks, Larry

Yes, that's one of our coyotes. We have at least one pair living on the property. Also yes, the tree at the far end prevented me from running the ramp straight down. Pitching the ramp to follow the path allowed me to lengthen it, giving it a more shallow pitch like I wanted as well.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I see you are also from MD. What part?

Frederick co.

 

[gable74]

Frederick co.

Cool. We are in AACo.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I work in AA co

 

[gable74]

Man, it was so humid today. It's days like today when you realize you're not 25 years old anymore...lol. I wanted to get more done but the heat just zapped me. I was able to level out the ramp and added a small extension at the bottom where it's likely to have some ground contact. That way if it gets rotted over time, it will be easy to replace. The top few pieces of deck that I had to bevel and mitre before the ramp worked out great. I have to get the sides of the deck and ramp ripped down straight and add the bumper rails when mill gets that lumber completed. Some of the decking was still pretty wet from being stacked up for a few weeks, which is why it looks a little dark. It will dry out over the next day or two.

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks like a flawless transition from ramp to bridge. Are you going to put some gravel down before the ramp?