Bridge to Cabin

[allen84]

Anyone out there built a bridge to drive over? I think I will be constructing one soon. I'm looking for ideas. The stream I'm going over is seasonal but can be very full and flowing. I will throw out a more accurate idea of span and potential wood I may use. Maybe someone out there who knows more about wood and bridges can point me the right way. I'm thinking Bodock logs +/- 20ft sitting on concrete/stone/rebar walls angled away from stream, backfilled with 3"+ stone decked with oak or rail road ties. I have lots of bodock, cedar, ash, and more. Seems like bodock is like concrete and I have some surprisingly big straight ones. I think this will be cheaper, better looking and less maintenance than a huge corrugated pipe. Any ideas?

[rocklock]

this will be cheaper, better looking and less maintenance than a huge corrugated pipe. Any ideas?

Yes; two or three corrugated pipes. I have one 12 inch cement pipe (20 feet long) that beavers like to plug up. We inserted rebar around the inlet... no problems for 2 years... Knock on wood... 4 cement pipes will carry more water that one twice as big... and there is no maintenance.

Don't build a bridge...unless you have an engineer figure out stuff... Look around up stream, do what they did or ask you county building department for their solution...

[rreidnauer]

I always kind of hoped that when I was property shopping, that I would have come across a property needing a bridge built. Always wanted to take on a challenge like that.

Surprising what you'll for construction methods sometimes. I was thinking pouring concrete abutments and acquiring an old flatbed rail car. I've seen on a county road, the center column of a bridge made up of just rail ties stacked sort of log house style.

I like your ideas of construction, but will agree with rocklock that if the area being traversed isn't that challenging, that multiple corrugated pipes covered with no less than a foot of modified stone is probably the way to go.

[rckclmbr428]

If its a seasonal stream a low water "bridge" would definitely be the way to go

[allen84]

Yes; two or three corrugated pipes. I have one 12 inch cement pipe (20 feet long) that beavers like to plug up. We inserted rebar around the inlet... no problems for 2 years... Knock on wood... 4 cement pipes will carry more water that one twice as big... and there is no maintenance.

Don't build a bridge...unless you have an engineer figure out stuff... Look around up stream, do what they did or ask you county building department for their solution...

Don't and Can't are two things not to tell me, just ask my wife :D ... The last "engineer's" plans I dealt with had to be completely re-engineered by me or it would have been a disaster. I'm sure there are better engineers out there than that one, or we should all be living in fear. Up stream is well, the water shed... Lots of huge hills all around. I'm the last (huge hill on the left) property at the end of the road. I believe it goes under a small bridge on the county road down from me. I actually have at least 2 or 3 places I have the option/plan on bridging.... Maybe I'll start with the one out of site, deep in the woods :p Another thing on bridges, If the decking is spaced out with gaps, cattle won't cross them.

[rreidnauer]

Another thing on bridges, If the decking is spaced out with gaps, cattle won't cross them.Neither will LHN if the creek is far enough below.

[loghousenut]

Neither will LHN if the creek is far enough below.

Don't want to steal your thunder, Rod, but my other brother (Randy) and I used to hobby climb the understructures of bridges. Succeeded several good high ones but finally quit about 100' across under the Thomas Creek bridge on the Oregon coast.

It ain't bridges I'm afraid of... just ladders and heights.

[allen84]

I used to work on cranes and lifts. I got to be the first to go test fly lifts sometimes 120' or higher after having it in 1000 pieces. The thought of the landing is what was always in my head. I used to jolt awake at night wondering if I had tightened all the bolts and had everything adjusted right. I don't miss the stress it gave me but I do miss playing with the big boy toys :D

[allen84]

I found a picture showing the perfect example of what I had in mind and now, cant find it. Bridge width walls (plenty wide for trucks), parallel to the waterway on both sides, tapering down and away from the stream at about 45 degree angles (to help keep rising water on the correct side, small pipes thru walls to relieve hydro pressure in heavy rains). 5 large logs pinned to the foundation walls spanning the waterway. Two logs, side by side on right and left side, one down the middle. I'm thinking the longest gap might be 14 feet (maybe even closer to half of that). I think I will go with bodock logs to span the water for a few reasons... hardest stuff around as far as I know, rot and insect resistance, its really hard and I have some big unusually straight ones. Deck with 4 inch thick oak.

[allen84]

Gaps to keep cows in and loghousenut out ;)

[Ascinder]

Why not do both the concrete culverts and the log bridge. If you set the culverts directly underneath and have the bridge wide enough over the top of them, you shouldn't even see them underneath. You can use the culverts along with enough compacted earth on top to act as a safety net just below your wood bridge. Costs more time and money, but safer and more aesthetic.

[jasonfromutah]

Yes; two or three corrugated pipes. I have one 12 inch cement pipe (20 feet long) that beavers like to plug up. We inserted rebar around the inlet... no problems for 2 years... Knock on wood... 4 cement pipes will carry more water that one twice as big... and there is no maintenance.

Don't build a bridge...unless you have an engineer figure out stuff... Look around up stream, do what they did or ask you county building department for their solution...

This is a great advice. Its interesting that I came across this thread today. I am having a local install something similar and spoke with him earlier this morning. And as Ronnie said, I will build it low since its seasonal runoff. Just another reason why these forums are so good!

[allen84]

Here is some other helpful info that I was told along the way... I have another property with a small runoff ditch parallel to the road (and near the road). The guy I was going to pay to put in the drive told me the county highway department would come tell me what size culvert to buy and the hwy dept. will install it at no charge (I'll feel a little better next time I pay my wheel tax) Needless to say, that guy didn't get the job, I did it myself and hwy dept. set the culvert . My main concern was digging near the asphault.

[allen84]

Kinda makes me feel bad cause he was honest and probably didn't have to tell me that... but it also saved me $600+

[loghousenut]

Kinda makes me feel bad cause he was honest and probably didn't have to tell me that... but it also saved me $600+

Buy him n his Boss a steak dinner. You may need him down the road.

[allen84]

Good call. You're right, I will. The "Boss" is actually who told me that information. It's a long time acquaintance and his dad (the Boss). They have a pretty big outfit, me and my driveway would have been small beans for them. However I would like to keep that door open for the future.

[rreidnauer]

I guess it should be said, make sure you don't have any wetlands laws to contend with. My old employer years ago got into a world of scat because he cleaned trash out of a creek on a property he bought, with an excavator.

[allen84]

Some gray area there (around here anyways)... An old farmer I know would ask "what constitutes a wetland?", because my wetland will be dry in about a month give or take. This will be for a weekend cabin, way out in the country, on a deadend road. It's gated. I am not "altering, damming or straightening" a waterway by way of a bridge (culvert I would say is an alteration) And It's not a "major or a minor roadway" (per their literature, IMO)... again, "what would constitute a roadway?"... a road for the public to travel. But good point to bring up.

[allen84]

I'll be sure to leave the trash :)

[rreidnauer]

I'll be sure to leave the trash :)
Seriously, right?

That's the gooberment for ya.