How to make the approach to a bridge

[RobA]

I'm in the process of building a wooden bridge to cross a creek (I'll post that project later) and need create the approach to it. I didn't want to disturb the area around the bridge so the bridge deck will be about 2 feet above grade. How would you create the approach to the bridge? It will be used by ATV's, horses and people. No tractors or vehicles. I'd prefer to use dirt/rocks/gravel. Here's a picture ....

 

[MikeD74T]

My bridge is similarly elevated. I filled both approaches with large fieldstone to within 2" of grade & topped with gravel. Had a few sinkholes as the gravel washed in during the first year. Now very stable. Pics aren't great but you can get the idea. MikeD74T

 

[RobA]

My bridge is similarly elevated. I filled both approaches with large fieldstone to within 2" of grade & topped with gravel. Had a few sinkholes as the gravel washed in during the first year. Now very stable. Pics aren't great but you can get the idea. MikeD74T

Great bridge. I remember seeing that here on TBN when searching for ideas.

Couple of questions:
-Did you bother removing some softer topsoil before you added the fieldstone?
-How do you keep the sides of the approach from flattening/spreading out over time? Did you make it extra wide to prevent that?

 

[Egon]

I'd try and build the outsides of the abutment using stackable rocks and then fill in with rocks/crushed gravel and finish the top four inches with crushed gravel.

 

[MikeD74T]

Great bridge. I remember seeing that here on TBN when searching for ideas.

Couple of questions:
-Did you bother removing some softer topsoil before you added the fieldstone?
-How do you keep the sides of the approach from flattening/spreading out over time? Did you make it extra wide to prevent that?

• I did not remove any topsoil, just dropped the stones in place with FEL. Hand stacked a few for best fit.
• The stones are mostly pretty large 50 -300 lbs. I piled the sides like a stone wall leaning back toward the center. The entire ramp is stone, not just the sides, i.e. a stone wedge. There's not more than a couple yards of gravel on either side.

All the stone was placed from one side. Built one ramp then drove up the ramp over the bridge to the other side. MikeD74T

 

[SPIKER]

I built up the ramp onto my bridge using gravel I scooped out of the creek, and just keep filling in 1 or 2 bucket fulls at a time... (tractor FEL bucket fulls that is, I was able to drive over it when I bought the place but it was messy and would move around under flooding stages so I filled in part of the decking and the metal I beams under neath that are placed onto phone poles buried in the ground...


mark

 

[ampsucker]

looking at your photo, my first question is what is the bridge over? if a ravine, does it flood badly? i assume you built it 2' above grade for a reason. if that reason is because the ditch under it fills with that much water, i think your biggest concern will be your ramp fill sinking into the ditch and eventually plugging it. if you can find some large, cheap, culvert pipe to place under the bridge that will handle the water, i think your long term prospect of success will be better.

at least in our neck of the woods, the freeze/thaw/rain cycle is what does in any kind of embankment that isn't properly stabilized. without being able so "see down" under the bridge, i think your biggest concern might be the banks around the support erroding away and the ramps slowly caving in in that area.

on the other hand, if it stays dry all the time, you might not have any problems... ;-)

amp