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Conference 7.286::home_work

Title:Home_work
Notice:Check Directory (6.3) before writing a new note
Moderator:CSLALL::NASEAM::READIO
Created:Tue Nov 05 1991
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2100
Total number of notes:78741

906.0. "Plans, Small Bridges" by EUCLID::PETERSON (Panama has no 2nd ammendment) Mon Jul 10 1989 10:12

    
    
    	I didn't see a note on this -yet- so here goes.
    
    		My back yard has some swampy/wetland area in teh middle
    of it, and a nice wood lot at the back.  I would like to get to
    the wood with my lawnmower or jeep with a trailer, but there are
    three streams in between my house and the trees.  Being a wetland
    area I can't fill(and wouldn't if I could, I like swamps!) but there
    is enough dry spots around the edge to walk/drive.  
    		
    		What I need are some plans for small (up to 8 ft)
    bridges.  I can figure out the basics, but have no idea of how/
    where to add bracing,ect.  Should I "copy" roof truss construction?
    
    		The streams are 3-5 ft wide and about 1 ft at the
    places I want to cross.
    
    
    		Thanks,
    
    		CPeterson
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
906.1GrossmansTYCOBB::C_DENOPOULOSWho is this guy?!?!?!Mon Jul 10 1989 11:194
    I think I saw plans for two different types of bridges at Grossmans.
    They have a section with all different plans for free.
    
    Chris D.
906.2Perhaps a boardwalk would be better?PRGMUM::FRIDAYPatience averts the severe decreeMon Jul 10 1989 12:468
    Perhaps just a boardwalk would be sufficient instead of
    a bridge?
    
    In our neighborhood there's some swampy conservation land,
    and the scouts put a very simple board walk through it.
    They didn't even bother to sink any piers into the ground,
    just built it on top of old telephone pole sections they
    put down.
906.3'phone pole supplies??EUCLID::PETERSONPanama has no 2nd ammendmentTue Jul 11 1989 11:1515
    
    
    re.2
    
    		Yes, the boardwalk idea is something I have started
    on a (very)small scale.  My thoughts are right now on getting a
    good sized trailer load of green wood across streams.  (I also think
    that a couple of little bridges would look good back there!)
    
    		Now, where can I re-stock my supply of 'phone poles?
    
    		Thanks
    
    		CP
906.4Old style bridge construction!POLAR::MACDONALDTue Jul 11 1989 14:3317
    You may also consider a culvert, say 1 or 2-foot diameter and fill in
    both sides with solid fill; this will provide the simplest
    construction. If you want to go ahead with a bridge, I would recommend
    getting used telephone/power poles for the spans. The span ends will
    need cross-members for support. These cross-members are usually
    recessed into the ground to a depth sufficient to allow for the
    span thickness plus any planking thickness you want to put on top of
    the spans.
    
    The cross-members are placed far enough back from the edge of
    the stream bank to allow driving large stakes (actually poles) into
    the ground in front of these cross-members to prevent them from
    creeping forward into the stream; these stakes will need to be driven
    below both the water line and frost line. As a finish/anti-erosion measure
    you may need to place solid debris in front of these posts (such
    as stones, old bricks, etc) to prevent erosion in the Spring if
    conditions exist.