Building a bridge

[buggyman1]

I'm in the process of building a wooden bridge to cross a small creek. The main goal was to make it strong enough to cross with my Kubota B-2150 with the backhoe attached. This is prob. overkill, but... it has 125, 60# bags of concrete in the main footers, plus two other beam supports. I used 2x6's for the slats, and four 6x6's for the main beams. It's 20 feet long, and 6 feet wide.

 

[workmytractor]

So, have you made the maiden voyage yet with your tractor? The bridge looks well built to me.
You have basically a >10' span between supports? Is it 4 6x6x10' beams sitting on the center support?

 

[buggyman1]

I got the tractor stuck digging the footers, as I had to back right in the creek to get close enough to dig. I built a concrete block wall (solid block) to build one side up even with the other. I bolted two 6x6 beams together on each side of the tracking with 1/4 inch thick steel brackets i made. The other footer is even with the ground, and is bolted right to the 6x6's.

 

[buggyman1]

So, have you made the maiden voyage yet with your tractor? The bridge looks well built to me.
You have basically a >10' span between supports? Is it 4 6x6x10' beams sitting on the center support?

No its 4 6x6's 20 feet long...2 bolted together.,on each side..the longest span between supports is about 7 feet

 

[buggyman1]

It has 2 more supports under it (4 in all) the other 2 are 6x6 posts with cross beams.

 

[buggyman1]

Heres some pics of the sides and one end finished. I really like how the end with the pavers turned-out (my girlfriend's idea). I'm planning on doing the other end as well. I did drive the tractor on it, but couldn't go all the way across because of the unfinished end, and I was a little nervous (scared to death, outriggers down ready to jump eagle eyes on any wood moving the first popping sound...bail scared)....no drama thank God.

 

[buggyman1]

The pavers are 4 inches thick. I tamped the ground, then put 6 inches of gravel, tamped again, then a layer of sand (about 2 inches) a thin layer of mortar, then the pavers, dry laid. I then poured dry mortar over the top of the pavers and worked it in, and sweap off the excess with a broom. I then sprayed water on it after i let it set overnight. I plan on repeating it (the mortar) at least once more.

 

[RalphVa]

Your bridge looks good.

I built one over my little creek that is smaller by just laying some PVC pipe and filling in over them. I put in a 4x4 held in place by a couple of heavy metal stakes to help keep it from being eroded when the water overflows it in storms. It has worked well, but I occasionally have to buy some more rocks to fill in some spots. It's a much smaller creek than yours is.

Where we walk across it another place, I just built a wooden bridge and tied it at each end to trees on each side. Otherwise, it would wash downstream in a flood. This is what our Ivy Creek Natural Area has for a bridge in one spot. It isn't strong enough to support a tractor.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Nice bridge and very well built!

 

[pat32rf]

What part of the country are you in? Any frost/ice/spring floods? Would love to build something like that but too timid.....

 

[Transit]

I really hate to be a wet blanket. Where did you come up with the design? Just because it "looks good", it dose not follow that it will not collapse. I will not offer how I would do it, because bridge building is way out of my field.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Nice looking bridge. I was looking at the picture of tyour tractor and wondered, where are the headlights?

 

[buggyman1]

What part of the country are you in? Any frost/ice/spring floods? Would love to build something like that but too timid.....

I'm in Ky. Everything underground is below the frostline (about 3 feet).

 

[buggyman1]

I really hate to be a wet blanket. Where did you come up with the design? Just because it "looks good", it dose not follow that it will not collapse. I will not offer how I would do it, because bridge building is way out of my field.

I designed it myself, and you may be right. I think I made it way stronger than it will ever need to be.

 

[buggyman1]

Nice looking bridge. I was looking at the picture of tyour tractor and wondered, where are the headlights?

lol, I dented the hood, and i took them out to fix the dent.

 

[buggyman1]

Today i put the gravel on the other side, had to drive over the bridge, with full buckets of gravel (8 in all). No problems. I was more worried about the pavers cracking in between the mortar joints than the bridge collapsing. Will post pics soon.

 

[workmytractor]

The second set of photos you posted really show how sturdy this bridge is. I believe you will have no problem driving your tractor across it. How much time do you have vested in this project?

 

[buggyman1]

The second set of photos you posted really show how sturdy this bridge is. I believe you will have no problem driving your tractor across it. How much time do you have vested in this project?

About a weeks worth of spare time.

 

[tugboat-2]

Well Buggyman,...I too am ignorant of bridge-building skills,....but IMHO I'd say you did a darn nice job of it. Sounds like you're deep enough for footings in KY and structurally sound enough for your own needs.

Nice design and just about what I need over the main inlet to my lake (pond), but I might just be tempted to increase the 4 x 4's to 6 x 6's for my 3520 Cab with a 73" bucket (clay, gravel etc, heavy),.....But I'm thinking out loud here and only meant to compliment you on a nice job,..your girlfriend gets a hand also for her fine input !!!

CHEERS !
. . . tug

 

[buggyman1]

Well Buggyman,...I too am ignorant of bridge-building skills,....but IMHO I'd say you did a darn nice job of it. Sounds like you're deep enough for footings in KY and structurally sound enough for your own needs.

Nice design and just about what I need over the main inlet to my lake (pond), but I might just be tempted to increase the 4 x 4's to 6 x 6's for my 3520 Cab with a 73" bucket (clay, gravel etc, heavy),.....But I'm thinking out loud here and only meant to compliment you on a nice job,..your girlfriend gets a hand also for her fine input !!!

CHEERS !
. . . tug

I did use 6x6's, the 4x4's only support the posts for the sides. Thanks for the kind comments.