How Would You Fix This Bridge?

[Mcdust]

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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[Mcdust]

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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My brother had a rail car over a creek entering his cranberry bog and it worked great

 

[Fxfymn413]

I would approach the solar farm folks and ask them if they want access to their panels through your bridge. If it makes their life easier they may bite and the cost to fix the bridge is probably a rounding error for them.

 

[bdhsfz6]

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.

A great idea, but way beyond our means. It would also get the DEP involved and require modifying the easement we have through private property.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I would approach the solar farm folks and ask them if they want access to their panels through your bridge. If it makes their life easier they may bite and the cost to fix the bridge is probably a rounding error for them.

A definite possibility, but the solar farm hasn't received final approval and may be years in the future. Also, the access road to the solar farm runs off a township road a quarter mile away. Certainly something to consider though.

 

[WinterDeere]

Is the newer 5' sleeve failing, or just the original 6' pipe? Any chance to pull another 5' sleeve into the opposite end, to an insertion depth that butts up against the end of that prior 5' sleeve?

Obviously easier said than done, but shouldn't be terribly difficult if you clean out the old 6' pipe of any debris, and then you could cement the new sleeve in place by forming out the open end, to lock everything in place.