Need ideas for finishing bridge

[Mavrik02]

Last summer/fall we finished the house and moved in. most of the work was on the inside (and stonework for the outside). This year we are doing the outside land and hard scaping.

The bridge has been up for almost a year now. It is steel construction (5 large I beams) with a 2" (or so) grate for the decking. It is 24' long and ~14' wide. It is very sturdy.

I was thinking about what to do with it. It is painted black and doesn't look too bad as is but...the house is wood and I will be finishing the hardscaping in rock and thinking about using some wood fencing along the driveway.

I though about maybe using some rough cut 2x10 to bolt onto the grating to make it look like a wood bridge but am not sure how that would hold up (the other thing to consider is that as is the snow just falls through the grate so you can always see the bridge no matter how much we get).

I also thought to add some kind of guide rail. I wasn't thinking it had to stop a car from going over the side but just provide a visual reference for drivers.

Or...like I said I could just leave it as is.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Fred

 

[Mavrik02]

Another view from the side.

 

[Mavrik02]

Close up of the decking.

 

[Birdman]

If you get much snow at all I think I would just leave the deck open, not have to worry about getting the snow off before someone drives over the bridge and packs it down. For the guide rail, how about some pipe or square tubing every few feet with some chain running between them.
And a toll booth. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MF1455v]

Mavrik02, you sure do have pretty place.

My first thought was to match that assume house. Use rock matching your foundation and make corner pillars at the four corners of the bridge with a rock ledge to cover the I beam. Then use the same wood railing as is on your porch/patio railing.

It also sounds like you've made a good point not to cover the deck of the bridge so just leave it alone. If I remember right the Golden Gate Bridge is decked the same way!

Just my 2 cents worth.

James

 

[1948berg]

Nice place! What does it look like when its all green? What I like best with TBN is the glimpses you get into other peoples lives, where and how they live. ( Like Scottys rock, I would like to see him in that chair!)
Every bridge shold have some sort of rail, it is very relaxing to hang over a rail and stare into the water, or to us the bridge for a meeting place, like these girls http://158.36.77.168/munch/nshop/img/3_magnet_piker.jpg

 

[MarkV]

I like the idea of the rock pillars on the corners. If you can get power there a nice light fixture on each pillar and low voltage lights along the drive would really set off the entrance. If you have any money left come on back we will discuss the gold plating of the bridge deck idea. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

MarkV

 

[Paddy]

I think it needs curbs to prevent slide offs. 6" above the deck take care of most slides. I have a concret bridge and have 6x6" curbs on both sides. It gives the driver a warm fuzy.

I do like the idea of 4 modest stone colums, say 18x18" 24" high. Between the colums cound be the curbs, caped with stone.

Patrick

 

[EddieWalker]

Fred,

I'm in agreement with James and the others. I built some columes for my entrance and wraped them with stone and put a camp on it whith a light. It really makes a statement when you go through them.

Make it match your house and every time you drive over your bridge, you will be thinking how nice the house is going to look.

Eddie

 

[NSBound]

Here's Eddie's columns and lights on your bridge, with maybe iron pipes railing? It's a bit rough, but... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif