building a small bridge

[dave1949]

Dump some rock in it and drive across.

Bruce

Ditto this. You could make a permanent maintenance-free crossing that way. Since it is an overflow and not a real stream, you could dig out your approach and exit ramps, deepen the bed a bit, and line everything with rocks. In NH you must have all the rocks you could need--free.

 

[EddieWalker]

I hate everything there is about railroad ties. They never last very long and they are of very poor quality for strength. If you have access to them and are dead set on using them, they lay them in the creek and drive over them. Since this is something temporary and a one time use, I wouldn't go to any trouble building a bridge of poor quality. The rock idea is the best one, but putting just about anything in the creek, from those posts, to cut up logs will work also. I like the trailer idea too!!!!

Eddie

 

[NHbotanut]

Can't get the trailer anywhere near the stream. Too far in the woods.
Regarding the stones, they don't want a permanent bridge. They already have a foot bridge. I need to drill 8 holes for posts, and push back some brush and logs for a clearing they want to enlarge.
I am hoping to only make 3-4 trips across. I will not be making trips back & forth bring any material.

An idea I just had is to drop my trailer loading ramps in the stream and then lay the RR Ties on top,,,,,????? For what ever amout they sink in, I can fish them out with the backhoe.

 

[crackerjack222]

A few years ago, I built a cross tie bridge across a ditch. I put two cross ties on each side of the ditch, parallel to the ditch and then decked it with cross ties. It worked fine with any thing I drove across it including my 12,000 lb tractor. Then, during some wet weather, a 30,000 lb fertilizer truck caused one side to sink about a foot. So I replaced it with a 36" tin horn and it has been good to go since.

 

[NHbotanut]

Well, don't have to worry about RR Ties. Customer can't get them.
Looking at going with 8 x 8 x 10 hemlock beam and run my trailer ramps under them.
What do you think?

 

[NHbotanut]

Just an update. Got the bridge finished and it worked out great. I ended up going to a local sawmill and picked up a Hemlock 6x8x10 and a 8x8x10 beam. For planks, we got Hemlock 2x12x12 and cut them in half. When I laid the beams across the stream, I had just about 2 feet of beam on both sides on solid ground.

Since it didn't happen unless accompanied by pics, here they are: The 1st is where I will be crossing,..laying the beams....nailing the planks.....& the finished product

 

[forgeblast]

Nice!! I bet it was fun moving those hemlock beams around

 

[NHbotanut]

Actually, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was able to bring them down on the clamp on forks. I chained one end and crept over the stream to place the beam down.

 

[zing]

You made a nice little footbridge in what looks like a nice area for walking in the woods. Did the customer ask you to leave the bridge behind when you left? All it needs is a couple of handrails and they would be golden.

 

[NHbotanut]

They already had a footbridge. This was built lust to do some landscaping on the other side. They paid for the materials, so it has been left in place. I may have to go back later this summer for some other projects they may want done.