Pond Bridge

[oh_lenny]

I started to build a bridge today.wide and strong enough to drive the kubota over I Hope. The outer frame is 6 1/2" x 3/16" channel the two inner strands are 4" x 3/16" I beam.I had to build it on my deck because my shop floor wasn't level enough.

 

[oh_lenny]

Some more Pics, tomorrow I start making the rails,paint it and deck it.hopefully finish it before the party tomorrow night.

 

[Willl]

Can you drive around this pond ?

 

[valley]

Sure looks strong enough! What are you going to cover it with? Richard

 

[mjncad]

My only suggestion is to add two sets of crossmembers to divide the long axis into three equal parts. That will stiffen up the structure, and it will be less likely to twist and rack. The deck boards will help some.

 

[oh_lenny]

Yes willl I can drive around the pond but I was looking into the future,I hate having to say (**** I should did it differently) Mjncad The span of this bridge is 10 ' long do you think there will be twist over such a short length? Valley I plan on double layering the deck with 2 x 4 in 1 st layer width ways and second layer length ways plus I am welding 1 1/2 " x 1 1/2 inch channel for the hand rail.

 

[oh_lenny]

Here is an update on the bridge I got to say it worked after a nervous roll onto the bridge. As you can see in the pic there is not even any flex in the frame. the next pic is mud work completed and I need some impute as to what you guy's think about incorporating the wagon wheel into the hand railing. And if so would a wrought iron railing look better than a wood railing.Thanks in advance

 

[patrick_g]

A steel hand rail can be added such that it reinforces the bridge. Wood would be only a safety factor and maybe decorative.

Pat

 

[mjncad]

Since the structure is only 10' long, I probably would have gone with one crossmember instead of the two I originally suggested. The perspective in the picture made it look longer.

However it looks like the structure is doing just fine with your rig on it. I tend to over-design things.

I second Patrick G's concerning the railing. Go metal as it's stronger and won't require as much maintenance as wood.

Nice job!

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks like a fun project. What did you use for footings to support the bridge?

I've been day dreaming about building a bridge over my spillway. It's nice to see yours, but of course, your success just reminds me to get going on mine.

I'm looking forward to seeing the railing and more pics of your bridge.

Thanks for posting,
Eddie

 

[rcrcomputing]

what size is your kubota? I can't quite tell..

 

[oh_lenny]

Looks like a fun project. What did you use for footings to support the bridge?

I've been day dreaming about building a bridge over my spillway. It's nice to see yours, but of course, your success just reminds me to get going on mine.

I'm looking forward to seeing the railing and more pics of your bridge.

Thanks for posting,
Eddie

Eddie I used another piece of channel welded to each end in the vertical for the extra height that I wanted,then I welded a piece of channel with the flanges facing down( horizontal) so it would dig into the ground. After that was done I welded gussets from the horizontal piece up to the I beam , I wanted them more to the inside of the bridge for cosmetic reasons.
rcrcomputing My kubota is a 2007 B7510 hsd

 

[jimmysisson]

Maybe rethink the double layer deck. If you don't need the strength, leave it single. The deck will rot faster doubled, with water sitting between the layers and not drying out. If it's treated, same thing but MUCH slower. Looks real useful otherwise!
Jim

 

[mwb]

To late at this point but I would have recommended 2x6 decking over the 2x4. You might find that the odd 2x4 will crack then the next one takes more load and so on.
The other fix for this is to run strip of checker plate lengthwise where your tractor wheels will run. You might have seen something like this done at a golf course.

The other thing that might be a nice touch is to install a curb along the inside; this would be better than using the side of your tractor and the railing as a guide.

A bridge is certainly a nice touch to the landscape!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[2manyrocks]

Another possibility is to use a reinforced concrete deck. I'd probably just run 4x4 PT along each side on the deck as a curb and call it done.

 

[oh_lenny]

I decided to stay with a single layer deck for now, the 2x4's seem to be strong enough to hold the tractor,as for the railing I'm planning on making a steel railing with some some type of western theme (maybe make a bunch of steel wagon wheels and weld them together with wooden hand railing. I'm just waiting for the weather to get better.thanks for the suggestions i really appreciate them,just like beer (many brains are better than one)

 

[Coolnorth]

That's a really good idea, especially when I consider where you are located!
How did you fare last month with the flood waters? My sister & B-I-L are just a few miles south-east of you and though river height didn't affect them, there was still overground flooding and it filled many of their buildings with water.

How deep is your water body and is it there year-round? What is the actual surface size of your bridge - 10 ft long by ___? Will you be dressing the approaches with crushed limestone?

 

[oh_lenny]

Coolnorth I'm 5 miles west of the river (lower fort garry historical museum) the flood never got to me but the overland flooding was getting awful close to the house.My ponds are on average of 3 feet deep but I have one pond I dug to 8 feet deep at the waterfall. The bridge is 10 feet by 5 feet. I am thinking of laying either shale or tyndal stone paths to and from the bridge and then try and grow moss in the cracks of the stone.

 

[MarkV]

I am sure a railing would be a nice touch. My only thought is that with the bridge 5' wide will a railing get in the way if you buy any wider implements?

MarkV

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Nice bridge!

One day i plan to build one for mine.

Thanks for the pictures.