Bridge Replacement

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:12:11 GMT

Has anyone had to replace an access bridge to their cabin that crossed a small creek? Ours is an old log and plank bridge that spans 20 ft. It has seen better days and the main beams are giving way. It is no longer fit to drive on, but walking is still OK.

If you have, do you have a design that has been accepted by the Forest Service and the Corps of Engineers? I have hired an engineer to come up with a solution and work with the Forest Service, but not much progress is being made.

We are in the Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, Gold Creek, CO.

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 23:09:00 GMT

Betty,

I don't have a pre-approved bridge plan to offer. Perhaps someone else in Colorado has had experience with this; we'll see. If you'd like to speak with me further about what's gone on so far and who at your Forest's District Office you've spoken with, I'd be happy to try to find out what the hold-up is. I'm in the office next week M-F 8-5pm Mountain Time. My phone here is 800-669-9971 and my email is sleach@nationalforesthomeowners.org.

If you are directly working with the Forest Service and you have an engineer drafting the design, then I would think your District Ranger would be prepared to make a decision. But it's a bit unclear if a design was submitted or is perhaps still in discussion. Give me a call if you wish to speak further.

Thanks,
Sharon Leach, NFH Executive Director

Bridge Replacement

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 18:40:19 GMT

Good Morning Betty,

Our family has a cabin up in North Central Colorado in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Approximately 10 years ago we replaced our footbridge which crosses Big Creek & spans about 32 feet of the creek. The bridge was designed to accommodate light duty traffic only such as foot& ATV traffic, not cars & trucks. Because of the light duty weights intended for the bridge we were not required an engineered structure. My design basis submitted was a foot bridge located in Rocky Mountain National Park and assumed to be approved by the Forest Service. Prior to deconstruction & construction of the bridge we met with our Permit Administrator, our District Ranger and the District Hydrologist. Fortunately we were not going to construct new bridge abutments and impact the stream flow or the stream banks. By utilizing the original abutments we replaced the main beams & bridge deck only which kept the scope of the project simple and less invasive, minimizing any negative impact involved in the process.

Good luck with your project,

Pem Eberlein

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 23:18:46 GMT

Thanks. We need to accommodate a yearly pump truck to pump out our outhouse so a heftier bridge will be built.

Wed, 2 Feb 2022 00:43:27 GMT

Hi B. Smith,

If it is any help, I have inspection documents on a similar existing bridge. My situation is a bridge that was "added" to our lease - and with that came the every other year inspection. There are some load values and drawings.. nothing building specific.

If you think that information would help from a reference prospective, let me know.

Steven Reed

Thu, 3 Mar 2022 00:10:30 GMT

Good luck with this. Our cabin is in the Willamette NF, R6. We had a 40 ft span foot bridge on which the log stringers and sills had deteriorated badly. Our original plan was to deconstruct the deck and railings which were still in fair shape and replace the stringers and sills. I met with the District Ranger to discuss our plan and he brought in an engineer from the Willamette NF office. The result was a bridge which would have cost us upwards of $40K, glulams, concrete sills on a geocell/geofabric base. This was just a foot bridge!

I'd suggest getting in touch with an structural engineer at either the Forest or Region 2 office. The FS has pages and pages of rules and standards for construction projects. If you plan on your engineer getting the design done with the least amount of revisions/cost, it is best to know the requirements ahead before starting.

Fri, 4 Mar 2022 17:01:24 GMT

thanks. We do have an engineer now (we had one that suggested a railroad car base but found in FS rules they do not allow those. The lowest cost estimate is for 2 culverts - 20K! We are not sure the Forest Service will accept 2 round culverts although up and down the road there are many other such bridges. Our cabins were built 1912 and only used for vacations.

We are on a permit that has to be renewed 2028. That is a real concern since the bridge is so expensive.