Gord Baker
Platinum Member
Very well thought out and erected. There are many ways to do this, you did good! I would bury the telephone pole cut offs upstream ahead of each bridge abutment.
Building my tractor bridge across the creek
- Thread starter deezler
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Gord Baker
Platinum Member
OP
deezler
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- Cub Cadet 7305, Kioti CK3510seh TLB
Thanks, grumpycat and Gord. It was a fun project and is holding up well so far.
LouNY
Super Star Member
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About the same here when visible, when not visible they can kiss my ___.
Very handsome bridge.
Based on my experience, despite the fact that the 'phone pole are fresh and well treated, in 15 or 20 years you will wish that you had obtained some aluminum flashing to cover the poles, individually, beneath the deck.
Even double heavy roofing felt will deteriorate. Over 20 years.
I used some good countersunk heavy-Zn lag bolts, (on the deck) so with a little ambition, I could follow my own advice, but I figger they'll last "as is" the short while longer that I'll be giving a damn. (77, but who is counting??)
Based on my experience, despite the fact that the 'phone pole are fresh and well treated, in 15 or 20 years you will wish that you had obtained some aluminum flashing to cover the poles, individually, beneath the deck.
Even double heavy roofing felt will deteriorate. Over 20 years.
I used some good countersunk heavy-Zn lag bolts, (on the deck) so with a little ambition, I could follow my own advice, but I figger they'll last "as is" the short while longer that I'll be giving a damn. (77, but who is counting??)
OP
deezler
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- Cub Cadet 7305, Kioti CK3510seh TLB
Yeah you may be right about that Darvish. I suppose my bridge will last a good long time, but at some point I will probably lose confidence to drive my tractor across it. Hopefully the fasteners don't rot too quickly, and then it will be straightforward to disassemble and rebuild - assuming my footers/abutments hold up.
Had a major flood test last friday night. Just posted another thread about having to repair my gravel driveway, which has never washed out from rainfall before (6+ years now). I think we got between 5 and 6 inches of rain, with most coming in a very intense 3 hour period.
The next morning before starting on my driveway repair, the kids and I took a hike back to inspect the creek. I knew I would need to wear my waders. Came over the hill and this is how the trails looked in the forest:
Looking at the mud-stained leaves of the weeds and bushes on the trail sides, I could see that the water had already come down about a foot! But the bridge survived, thank goodness.
If you look closely you can see foam remnants on the bottom side of the phone pole - they were clearly getting washed hard with flood water. The front/upstream cinder block got washed pretty hard also. I think I will need to place some armoring in front of it for future protection.
My little temporary footbridge didn't fare as well, and it blew down the stream a bit. Time to yank it out already.
This was the most intense rain, and highest creek flooding I have ever seen on this piece of land, in over 8 years of observation now. I'm feeling truly relieved and grateful that nothing really got damaged. Mother nature is a powerful force.
Had a major flood test last friday night. Just posted another thread about having to repair my gravel driveway, which has never washed out from rainfall before (6+ years now). I think we got between 5 and 6 inches of rain, with most coming in a very intense 3 hour period.
The next morning before starting on my driveway repair, the kids and I took a hike back to inspect the creek. I knew I would need to wear my waders. Came over the hill and this is how the trails looked in the forest:
Looking at the mud-stained leaves of the weeds and bushes on the trail sides, I could see that the water had already come down about a foot! But the bridge survived, thank goodness.
If you look closely you can see foam remnants on the bottom side of the phone pole - they were clearly getting washed hard with flood water. The front/upstream cinder block got washed pretty hard also. I think I will need to place some armoring in front of it for future protection.
My little temporary footbridge didn't fare as well, and it blew down the stream a bit. Time to yank it out already.
This was the most intense rain, and highest creek flooding I have ever seen on this piece of land, in over 8 years of observation now. I'm feeling truly relieved and grateful that nothing really got damaged. Mother nature is a powerful force.
OP
deezler
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2012
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- 3,602
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- Southeast MI
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- Cub Cadet 7305, Kioti CK3510seh TLB
New visitor for my bridge. The troll approved our crossing, thankfully.
