Building A Bridge
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mrcaptainbob
Platinum Member
There's been a number of pics here of the neat things that people have, but I'll admit that that is one honkin' back yard you have!!!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I really admire your grounds keeping equipment!!Beats most of those dinko Kubota's and Ford's I keep reading about!!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
Gatorboy
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I can find alot of websites for information on building Bridge Superstructures (beams, decking, etc.), and feel pretty comfortable with that portion. The part I have the most difficult figuring out is building the SubStructure (the abutments, wing walls, piling, etc.). Anyone have experience in this area, or a good source?
The type of substructure is dependent on the soil conditions that the footings will rest on. If the ground is soft for several feet below the purposed footing, a pile foundation could be used. If the ground is solid, you could go with a poured in place footing or even precast blocks.
If you are going to drive light loads over the bridge and have solid ground, you may consider using old precast concrete barrier as footings and set your girders on the barrier. You could even pour a cast in place footing and set the barrier on the footing. You could then backfill against the barrier and use some concrete anchor bolts to attach the girders to the top of barrier. Use some 4" X 4" angle iron and anchor the barrier to the cast in place footing. There is several options for bracing and added support. You could even backfill the front side of the barrier rail with rip rap to give it added support and look pleasing to the eye.
If you need to use piling, you can use timber or steel piling. It gets kinka pricy to have the piles driven with a crane and pile hammer. If the ground is real soft, you could pound the piling in with an excavator bucket if you have a big enough machine and a good operator.
Lets us know your soil conditions.
If you are going to drive light loads over the bridge and have solid ground, you may consider using old precast concrete barrier as footings and set your girders on the barrier. You could even pour a cast in place footing and set the barrier on the footing. You could then backfill against the barrier and use some concrete anchor bolts to attach the girders to the top of barrier. Use some 4" X 4" angle iron and anchor the barrier to the cast in place footing. There is several options for bracing and added support. You could even backfill the front side of the barrier rail with rip rap to give it added support and look pleasing to the eye.
If you need to use piling, you can use timber or steel piling. It gets kinka pricy to have the piles driven with a crane and pile hammer. If the ground is real soft, you could pound the piling in with an excavator bucket if you have a big enough machine and a good operator.
Lets us know your soil conditions.
Gatorboy
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First, here is a link to some pictures of my site: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pbase.com/gatorboy/bridge>Future Bridge Location</A>
Sub-Structure: I am clueless on how to go about building one.
The low side of the stream is located in a 100 year flood plain, so I need to make sure that side is strong enough not to get washed away in the event of a hurricane or big flood. Just below the soil it is very rocky here, and the stream bed is rock -- a nearby neighbor has built a bridge and has two abutments with wing walls on each side. He said the footer is about 6 feet below grade.
I have no clue how to begin to build such an abutment. How to form it, how much rebar to use, etc. This is why I am hoping to either talk with someone on this or find some documentation explaining how to do this.
The high side of the stream is about 3 feet higher than the low side. It will be much easier digging on the high side, and it is above the flood plain.
One quesiton is, I guess I would want a level bridge as opposed to one that sloped down from high to low, correct? So somehow, I need to form an abutment on the low side that is probably about 4 foot high or so. Do you make forms with plywood to pour concrete into? Once again, I am clueless in this area.
I am trying to figure out how to build a bridge in which I can do most of the work, so I can save money. If money was no object, I would just hire a bridge contractor to come in a do the work and send me a $60,000 bill. I would like to build this for about $12,000 - $20,000 on my own. Is abutments the best way to go? How about 24" columns made with sono-tubes? I am open to all suggestions.
Any help you can give me will be much appreciated.
Sub-Structure: I am clueless on how to go about building one.
The low side of the stream is located in a 100 year flood plain, so I need to make sure that side is strong enough not to get washed away in the event of a hurricane or big flood. Just below the soil it is very rocky here, and the stream bed is rock -- a nearby neighbor has built a bridge and has two abutments with wing walls on each side. He said the footer is about 6 feet below grade.
I have no clue how to begin to build such an abutment. How to form it, how much rebar to use, etc. This is why I am hoping to either talk with someone on this or find some documentation explaining how to do this.
The high side of the stream is about 3 feet higher than the low side. It will be much easier digging on the high side, and it is above the flood plain.
One quesiton is, I guess I would want a level bridge as opposed to one that sloped down from high to low, correct? So somehow, I need to form an abutment on the low side that is probably about 4 foot high or so. Do you make forms with plywood to pour concrete into? Once again, I am clueless in this area.
I am trying to figure out how to build a bridge in which I can do most of the work, so I can save money. If money was no object, I would just hire a bridge contractor to come in a do the work and send me a $60,000 bill. I would like to build this for about $12,000 - $20,000 on my own. Is abutments the best way to go? How about 24" columns made with sono-tubes? I am open to all suggestions.
Any help you can give me will be much appreciated.
Anonymous Poster
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How about 2 lenghts of 3 foot diameter concrete pipe side by side? Maybe 4 or 5 foot diameter pipe, whatever works. Cover it with gravel or dirt and you're done. Or do you want a bridge for asthetic reasons?
Gatorboy
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Concrete Pipe for abutments?
If you are talking about putting the pipe in the stream -- that is a no-go for me. I need to not disturb the water for this bridge. This is in a wetlands area, and the Army Corps of Engineers would hold this project up forever.
If you are talking about putting the pipe in the stream -- that is a no-go for me. I need to not disturb the water for this bridge. This is in a wetlands area, and the Army Corps of Engineers would hold this project up forever.
gerard
Veteran Member
From the looks of your pics I think the cheapest easiest way would be to get two oval culvert pipes 3-4 feet across and then just place them and use a few trucks load of fill/stone and make a culvert. The span doesn't seem to be that much nore the depth of the bed.
gerard
Veteran Member
oops, guess I should have read page two before replying!! Losiento about the culvert pipe idea but that would only cost you about $1000 max!!!
Gatorboy
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The previous owner already had a 48" culvert in there, and the stream washed it out. This area can flood pretty good during a heavy rain.
But, like I said earlier, I can avoid dealing with the Army Corps of Engineers by not disturbing the water.
But, like I said earlier, I can avoid dealing with the Army Corps of Engineers by not disturbing the water.