Building a Private Bridge

[eseidel]

I am in the process of purchasing a campground along a small river. I already own the land on the other side. If I could build a bridge, this would greatly enhance the usability and profitability of this business. I am looking for advice or leads as to budget, construction techniques, bridge manufacturing companies, etc... Obtaining permission from the local township shouldn't be a problem. It is located in the eastern part of Canada. I personally love covered bridges like those found in Vermont and NH. The river is approximately 35 feet wide, and there is a part where a small island is in the center. It is really more of a mountain stream than a river. I'd like it to be wide and strong enough for vehicles (a single lane). But if this is impossible, then I'd settle for foot traffic only.
I've attached a photo of the river.

I'd appreciate any ideas. Thanks!
Rick

[Rich]

I've built a few bridges and my father used to build bridges for a living (he did large stuff though). We did some 20' bridges on one property for vehicle traffic. Essentially we had the head walls on each side.. comprised of a 30" x 12" footing and a 24" stemwall. Embed plates were placed 3' on center into the stemwall to accept the steel beams. 2x4 rough-sawn boards were placed on top of the beams onto which 4x12 planks were laid perpendicular to traffic and lag bolted into the 2x4's. We burned up 2 Dewalt ratchet guns - 600 lags in each bridge in about 3 hours. We then put 2- 2x12's side by side on each side for the tires.
We ran several full concrete trucks over it when we were done with no problems.
Anyway - that's what we did for ours. The worst part was trying to divert a deep, fast running creek long enough to pour the footings and stemwalls.
You'll want to have an engineer size the beams and you'll probably need an intermediate pier on your island.

[eseidel]

Thanks for the helpful info Rich. It sounds like you built quite a solid bridge. Do you know approximately what you spent in materials? I am hoping to keep my costs to around $10,000 USD. By the way, for the 12 foot width, how many metal beams did you use? You said they were 3 foot on center so I'm guessing 4 or 5. Also, do you think if I needed to, that I could make the whole way across (35 feet) without the support on the middle island area? Maybe if I put the beams 2 foot on center? I might be able to cheat in a few feet on each side, making the span around 30 feet.

Thanks again for the advice.

By the way, I tried unsuccessfully to attach a photo. I wonder what I'm doing wrong??

Rick

[eseidel]

Oops,

I forgot one question....

I imagine it is necessary to dig down below the frost line to pour the footings right? It is 48" in this area. I hope this isn't a dumb question!

Rick

[Rich]

No such thing as a dumb question.. sometimes I give dumb answers.. well that's a different story.
I would put them below frostline if at all possible.
Right now probably the most expensive part would be the steel beams.. but I would imagine you could easily get it below 10000. It was a couple years ago that we built the bridge and I don't think we were over 7000. I think we did have 5 beams for the span. Wish now that I had taken pictures of it.
I'm sure you could make it all the way across if you get big enough steel. I have no idea what size they would be - need an engineer for that.

What filetype is it.. you should be able to upload gif, jpg, png, etc with no problem. I suppose it could've timed out if the image is too large.

[roger g]

I would be more concerned what the dept of lands and forest has to say about a bridge over a natural water course. Maybe it's the environment people. They probably control a cetain number of feet on either side of a natural water course. Be carefull!!!!

roger

[doyle]

Here's a thought...why not try to find a used bridge for sale? No, seriously. There are companies out there that specialize in removing and reinstalling old bridges. You could possibly get a very nice, ornate, iron bridge that could be an attaction to your campground.

Check with architectural salvage dealers, and with any historical preservation societies. I've noticed several old bridges for sale the last several years in Preservation Magazine. You have to be a member of the National Historical Society to get that magazine since it's not on newstands.

[eseidel]

Roger G - Yes, you're right to mention that. I haven't done the legwork yet to find out all of the restrictions that might come into play. It is possible that it would shoot down the whole project. This is in a mountainous part of Quebec, Canada. And so far, there seems to be much fewer gov't regulations compared to what I've dealt with locally here in Michigan. I do know that they do allow for a 20 ft wide river access area for each parcel that fronts the river. I know I can build a dock, deck, etc... So maybe a bridge wouldn't be such a major problem. I'll have to find out first, though.

Doyle - Actually, your idea is a great one. I've already done some searching on the internet, but unsuccessfully so far. You might be interested to know that I already have two entire log homes on the property sitting in piles! One was built in 1790, the other around 1850. The first one I, together with a specialist and a bunch of friends, numbered and dismantled in order to rebuild as a rentable vacation home on this property. It was amazing to see the original hand-hewn beams cut from virgin forests! The second one I purchased from a guy who had done the same thing but decided he didn't have the funds or energy to rebuild it. So an historic bridge would compliment these homes fantastically. If you ever come across one, I'd definitely appreciate you giving me a heads up!

Thanks to both for your comments.

Rick

[roger g]

Water courses are governed by Provincial and Federal laws not usually local.
During the war ( 19039-45) a BRitish engineer called Bailey designed a quick assembly bridge, called the Bailey Bridge of course, that was ussed during the war for quickly getting over rivers. The Americans designed something similar. After the war these bridges were used all over the place in Canada either as permanent bridges or temporary bridges while a new concrete bridge was being built. There were thoisands of those suckers. Every town had a few. Road and brisge builders had them. Rural roads had them everywhere. It was built like a big truss system. Because there was so many of those things around there has to be some for sale. Maybe even the modern version.

roger

[Rich]

I love log and timber frame homes. Actually a mixture of the 2 is my favorite. Timber frame bents with inset logs. Someday I may have enough time and money to construct one for myself. I've done quite a bit of timber frame items inside and outside homes - but never a whole top to bottom project. The couple bridges we did on one property was for a fly fishing ranch where we reclaimed a bunch of creeks and created several acre+ lakes/ponds. So we had to make the bridges blend into the landscape. We ended up bolting a 1/2 log onto the edges of the outside steel beams to cover them. Turned out very nice.
Please post the pictures of stuff you get completed - as you go is good too.. exterior and interior.

[eseidel]

Great idea for biding the metal beams, I was wondering how to do that.

I guess I need to get busy tracking down the appropriate gov't agency to begin the approval process. It sounds like it might be more of a headache than I thought.

If and when I get started on it, I will certainly take photos of the process...same thing for the rebuilding of the two historic homes.

I even thought about contacting one of those shows like "This Old House" or one of the others to see if they'd be interested in putting a show together on the dismantling and rebuilding of an old log home. I think there are still many homes like this to be found out in the country, sometimes abandoned, that would make charming vacation cottages, etc... if moved to the right location. It might make an interesting show.

Rick

[eseidel]

Just a quick update on this project. I was traveling through Ontario on the 401 and stopped in Kingston for dinner at the Pizza Hut. In order to exit the parking lot you need to cross a private single lane bridge. I checked it out and saw that instead of long beams there are 6" x 6" x 10 feet beams running perpendicular every 4 feet, there are smaller 2" x 2" braces connecting them in a "v" pattern. There is a metal sheet on top of this, with folds in it. Then there is concrete poured on top of it all. It was manufactured by Eagle Bridge Co. in Kitchener, ON. I called and got a quote from them. A similar bridge 60' long delivered in one piece to Quebec would cost around $25,000 plus tax (5 ton rating) and $28,000 (10 ton rating)

It is a little more than I had hoped but the nice thing is that all I need to do is pour the two piers at each end and hire a crane to set it in place and then add the concrete. I could opt for pressure treated decking instead of concrete. All told it will run close to $40,000....about twice what I had hoped. I might go this route if I can get the $$$.

Rick

[Rich]

Right on... would be plenty strong.

[icthrooyou]

Hi Rick,

Sounds like a great project you have going on!

I recently completed a small bridge with dimensions that sound similar to the one you are contemplating. I have about $7000 in materials invested ($4500 just in steel beams/decking/angle!). I did almost all the work myself with some help from a few friends, so I can't help you much on figuring the labor costs. The deck is 30ft long (23 1/2 ft unsupported span between pier faces) and 12ft wide.

Here's the link: http://www.creations4christ.com/wolfecreek/bridge.htm

For more detail and pics, go to: http://www.creations4christ.com/wolfecreek/progress.htm

Good luck on the project!

\o/ Paul