How Would You Fix This Bridge?

[ruffdog]

Good site with pictures:

Vehicular Bridges | Bridges

Residential | Prefabricated home bridges supplied nationwide

 

[charlessenf]

I guess my dad got lucky when he bought property with a shared driveway/road - only one other property though. Of course it helped when dad's opening gambit was, "I'll buy the gravel, you maintain the road."

Other guy had a tractor, dad didn't have to buy one.

If only teh people elected to represent us could function as we would have others treat us.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

The bridge was built in 1913 by dumping fill over a 6' diameter steel pipe, which is rotting away. The span over the pipe is around 20' to get to solid ground on either side. There is 36" of fill on top of the pipe, topped with 6" of modified gravel. Water is running beside the pipe and undermining what's left of it. As a result, the downstream side (left in pics 2 & 3), is subsiding. The aerial photo is north up orientation and the stream flow is top to bottom.

It's a private road, used by only a few property owners with limited resources. Contractor estimates to replace it with a 6' poly pipe are upward of $50K, which we can't afford. The price is elevated by DEP regulations which require the stream to be diverted during construction. The only way to do this is with large pumps. Stream flow and environmental impact studies prepared by a certified engineer are also required. Construction is made more difficult by overhead transmission lines.

The "cheap" fixes we've been looking at include using flatbed rail cars to span the pipe, or perhaps a 20' reinforced concrete slab. To avoid DEP regulations, anything we do can't disturb the stream.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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That big hole, can you see water, is it washed all the way through? I assume it's rusted through at that point?
My bandaid fix I would try dropping large rocks down sized so they don't go through the pipe. Then some gravel just enough so then you could pour in a few bags of Quikrete.
That would be down about 2 feet. Then when Quikrete sets up some dirt and gravel up to top.
Otherwise I'd see how bad the old pipe is rusted out overall. If not all that bad if you had a source of scrap steel dig it out down to pipe, then put the steel on top of pipe, like 3ft by 20ft then put the 3ft of fill back on top.

 

[anomad]

That big hole, can you see water, is it washed all the way through? I assume it's rusted through at that point?
My bandaid fix I would try dropping large rocks down sized so they don't go through the pipe. Then some gravel just enough so then you could pour in a few bags of Quikrete.
That would be down about 2 feet. Then when Quikrete sets up some dirt and gravel up to top.
Otherwise I'd see how bad the old pipe is rusted out overall. If not all that bad if you had a source of scrap steel dig it out down to pipe, then put the steel on top of pipe, like 3ft by 20ft then put the 3ft of fill back on top.

I've fixed two crossings with construction waste cement blocks and bricks in the same manner as fuddy describes. They are much smaller than your mess. I just kept mashing down CMU block and bricks till it didn't settle. I'd come over with my track hoe if we were neighbors.

 

[bdhsfz6]

That big hole, can you see water, is it washed all the way through? I assume it's rusted through at that point?
My bandaid fix I would try dropping large rocks down sized so they don't go through the pipe. Then some gravel just enough so then you could pour in a few bags of Quikrete.
That would be down about 2 feet. Then when Quikrete sets up some dirt and gravel up to top.
Otherwise I'd see how bad the old pipe is rusted out overall. If not all that bad if you had a source of scrap steel dig it out down to pipe, then put the steel on top of pipe, like 3ft by 20ft then put the 3ft of fill back on top.

No, the pipe isn't rusted through on top, but the bottom is mostly gone.

In the past, when holes or cracks appear, we've been enlarging them down to the top of the pipe and filling with rock & concrete.

 

[MotorSeven]

Seems like it would be cheaper to abandon that bridge and build a new one upstream? Work in the late summer when the creek is low so you don't disturb the creek bed.

Or(if possible), obtain a new right of way and build a new road to avoid the creek all together?

 

[bdhsfz6]

Seems like it would be cheaper to abandon that bridge and build a new one upstream? Work in the late summer when the creek is low so you don't disturb the creek bed.

Or(if possible), obtain a new right of way and build a new road to avoid the creek all together?

We looked into building a new road upstream, effectively bypassing the creek, but it would require a new easement which the neighboring farm won't grant. He is looking to lease the property to a solar farm company.

 

[WinterDeere]

We looked into building a new road upstream, effectively bypassing the creek, but it would require a new easement which the neighboring farm won't grant. He is looking to lease the property to a solar farm company.

So… a covered roadway!

 

[MotorSeven]

We looked into building a new road upstream, effectively bypassing the creek, but it would require a new easement which the neighboring farm won't grant. He is looking to lease the property to a solar farm company.

Keep in touch, maybe he will re-consider. I can't blame him though, depending on how intrusive a new road would affect his domain.

Wait,,,,,get the solar farm to build the road that just happens to by-pass the creek Offer them that $50K to help.........win win!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Last year the private road to the homeplace where 98yo Mother lived with caregivers washed out, installed in 1940.
I paid having it all dug out, installed a 48" corrugated steel pipe 30 ft long. There were two concrete 2ft diameter pipes also I had contractor put on top of the big pipe.
He used rip rap either side and top, then 56s finish off top.
It was about $10K total.
Your stream is larger, but I just searched funds available in Pennsylvania for even private roads and it looks like FEMA and PEMA may (?).
Who knows how long a bandaid patch would last, but I would get other estimates and think about maybe federal or state funds available to fix it. Certainly everyone having use of the road needs to share repair cost.
I know yours is on a larger scale but this was completed in one day.

 

[jyoutz]

Last year the private road to the homeplace where 98yo Mother lived with caregivers washed out, installed in 1940.
I paid having it all dug out, installed a 48" corrugated steel pipe 30 ft long. There were two concrete 2ft diameter pipes also I had contractor put on top of the big pipe.
He used rip rap either side and top, then 56s finish off top.
It was about $10K total.
Your stream is larger, but I just searched funds available in Pennsylvania for even private roads and it looks like FEMA and PEMA may (?).
Who knows how long a bandaid patch would last, but I would get other estimates and think about maybe federal or state funds available to fix it. Certainly everyone having use of the road needs to share repair cost.
I know yours is on a larger scale but this was completed in one day. View attachment 5417067View attachment 5417068View attachment 5417069View attachment 5417070View attachment 5417071

That’s a great repair. And a good thought about funding. USDA/NRCS probably has some cost/share funds to do such work.

 

[Jstpssng]

. It may turn into one on it's own eventually when the bridge finally washes out. It isn't clear what the DEP would do then.

By then, maybe the above mentioned trees will have grown enough to hide it.

 

[bdhsfz6]

******* UPDATE*******

After filling and regrading those cracks a few days ago, we had another heavy rainstorm and second hole opened up. This one is on the east side of the pipe. After digging it out down to the pipe, it took 3 yards of concrete to fill.

Water running beside the pipe caused the subsidence. The void extended past the center of the road and isn't visible in the pictures.

It's a never ending battle.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I'm thinking it's time to make a lot of phone calls. Me...I have a notebook & pens handy for name-date-time, etc.
"The price is elevated by DEP regulations which require the stream to be diverted during construction. The only way to do this is with large pumps. Stream flow and environmental impact studies prepared by a certified engineer are also required."
Seems the worst part. If any of you guys know an attorney there could be a way around it. I still think state or federal funds may be available. I wouldn't be opposed calling your congressman, you never know.
Save all the pictures you have.
As crazy as things are today if someone were to open an Islamic Mosque in their basement, you'd probably have a new paved driveway installed in two days at no charge.

 

[jyoutz]

I'm thinking it's time to make a lot of phone calls. Me...I have a notebook & pens handy for name-date-time, etc.
"The price is elevated by DEP regulations which require the stream to be diverted during construction. The only way to do this is with large pumps. Stream flow and environmental impact studies prepared by a certified engineer are also required."
Seems the worst part. If any of you guys know an attorney there could be a way around it. I still think state or federal funds may be available. I wouldn't be opposed calling your congressman, you never know.
Save all the pictures you have.
As crazy as things are today if someone were to open an Islamic Mosque in their basement, you'd probably have a new paved driveway installed in two days at no charge.

I would do as I suggested earlier and ask USDA NRCS do a free evaluation and see what cost share funds may be available.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Yes. I'd call lots of places...hence the pen & paper. One leads to another, etc. You never know until you start asking.

 

[DGF]

The bridge was built in 1913 by dumping fill over a 6' diameter steel pipe, which is rotting away. The span over the pipe is around 20' to get to solid ground on either side. There is 36" of fill on top of the pipe, topped with 6" of modified gravel. Water is running beside the pipe and undermining what's left of it. As a result, the downstream side (left in pics 2 & 3), is subsiding. The aerial photo is north up orientation and the stream flow is top to bottom.

It's a private road, used by only a few property owners with limited resources. Contractor estimates to replace it with a 6' poly pipe are upward of $50K, which we can't afford. The price is elevated by DEP regulations which require the stream to be diverted during construction. The only way to do this is with large pumps. Stream flow and environmental impact studies prepared by a certified engineer are also required. Construction is made more difficult by overhead transmission lines.

The "cheap" fixes we've been looking at include using flatbed rail cars to span the pipe, or perhaps a 20' reinforced concrete slab. To avoid DEP regulations, anything we do can't disturb the stream.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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If it were me I'd push/pull an 18" corrigated plastic pipe though it and call it a day. Industrial pipe is easy to get and isn't too expensive. It also comes in 15' sections. Couple 2 and drop them in. Set up some rocks/anchors on the output side to keep it from getting pushed through and the same on the input side to help protect the gap there. Fill the road cracks with a course sand such as "grits" from the gravel pit. You want sand so it will percolate down into the crack to fill it deep. Just keep adding sand every now and then until it stops going in. Then if at some point later you want, you can repair the top 4" of hot top with some bags of patch and it should be good to go for a long time.

 

[bdhsfz6]

If it were me I'd push/pull an 18" corrigated plastic pipe though it and call it a day. Industrial pipe is easy to get and isn't too expensive. It also comes in 15' sections. Couple 2 and drop them in. Set up some rocks/anchors on the output side to keep it from getting pushed through and the same on the input side to help protect the gap there. Fill the road cracks with a course sand such as "grits" from the gravel pit. You want sand so it will percolate down into the crack to fill it deep. Just keep adding sand every now and then until it stops going in. Then if at some point later you want, you can repair the top 4" of hot top with some bags of patch and it should be good to go for a long time.

I don't think an 18" pipe would handle the stream flow. The old pipe is 6' in diameter.

 

[2manyrocks]

Trying to get water to flow into a 18" pipe after it's already working its way past a 6' pipe might cause it to blow out even faster.

 

[kmesr9]

Build a new box-type culvert beside the old one. When completed divert the creek to the new culvert. Box culverts have concrete wings and a concrete box(no bottom) for water flow. There is a box culvert in front of my house in the county road that's been there since the 1940's. I've watched fully-loaded tri-axle dump trucks drive over that culvert several times a day each spring and it's not been damaged yet.

A box culvert looks like a bridge and is often mistaken as such. This company builds pre-cast box culverts, but looking at them is a good visual aid to help understand how the look. Their design with a separate top is what I tried to describe, but turned upside down..

https://precast.org/theprecastshow/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/CP1-Box-Culvert-Design-Detailing_FINAL.pdf

This is what I was going to suggest although my suggestion would be to make it 10ft x 10ft and put it over the top of the existing then remove the pipe and dirt underneath.