Need advice on bridge repair

[TOSH]

Hi

New to the forum but hoping for lots of advice! I have a 40' bridge over a small river to enter my property. It is made of two 20" I-beams that rest on a wood framework and on the bank on each side. The problem is that the bank on one side is eroding and pushing the pilings out.

I am considering driving steel pipes and filling them with concrete to support the ends of the bridge, rather than having them rely on bank to hold it up. Then I could rebuild the retaining wall and fill it with something more substantial than dirt, gravel and old trees.

How would I drive something down and how far do I need to go? Would a backhoe drive a pipe? Or should I use drums and fill them with concrete and then use I-beam or timbers to support the bridge? Any advice would be helpful. I could email photos.

Thanks!

[Cole]

Post the pics here.

Or send them to me at coleconstructiongroup@yahoo.com

And I will post them for everybody.

[Tom R]

I believe Rich is the one who has a lot of bridge-building knowledge. :wink:

[Rich]

If it's safe enough to get under it and pour a footing and shorter stemwall. Then post up to the 20" I-Beams off that. One thing to remember - you'll need to return the stemwalls and footing back into the bank to minimize undermining of the footing. Unless I misunderstand you when you say the retaining wall. If it's a true retaining wall you can pour up against that and then post up to your I-Beams.
Once the footing/stemwall is in you can shore off the stemwall and then place steel columns up to the I-Beams.

[TOSH]

Wow! Sounds like I brought my question to the right place! I will take detailed photos this weekend and post on Monday.

Thanks!