New large Project, need design ideas

adding your ideas to the list

great ideas.

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I meet with Engineer Friday. Will explore some attractive bump out over the river.

Re: New large Project, need design ideas

Wiley Horne

I also like Barry’s idea of vertical pickets incorporated somehow. Perhaps prefabricated as panels rather than installed in place. From the water, they would mimic the vertical panel motif that you can make out on the main girders (I-beams).

Since this bridge marks the trail head, it is crying out for an arch overhead with signage. Maybe that’s slready in your thinking...

Wiley

Not necessarily.... *LINK*

Jim Matthews

You in a dry County?


https://www.usw.org/news/media-center/articles/2014/union-volunteers-rebuild-footbridge-at-ned-smith-center-for-nature-art-in-pa

yes to both

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Engineer tasked with comin gup with a rod rail for the viewing area. Rub rails for where the bikers may scrub against the sides

Later when someone funds it an arch.

Re: New large Project, need design ideas

Clint Searl

Alternate sections of pickets and low chain link fencing.

Cumberland trail State Park Soddy creek gorge *LINK*

JL

The bridge I was thinking about is almost near the bottom.

It is a suspension bridge w/ steel girder uprights.


Soddy creek gorge

Re: New large Project, need design ideas

al morgan

Id suggest two arches on both sides. One arch to span from on masonary support to the other. The arches don't have to be very tall. Of course you would use supporting structure to fill in and support the arches. Covered bridges often used arches with a truss system. Perhaps a covered bridge design without the sides bordered up?

Re: New large Project, need design ideas

al morgan

Also, if you go with you sample "boring" pics I would suggest handrails that slope to the ground at end would make it pleasanter looking. Perhaps a trellis over the pathway too?

Re: yes to both

Dick Coers

I do short travelogues on Facebook of my cycling adventures. I really like a signature sculpture or mural as an opening picture of my adventure. So something special at the trailhead provides the selfie opportunity. It will also help as advertising that goes on social media.

Wyoming, IL



Alton, IL

Picture

JL

We have one

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

There are several historical suspension foot bridges across the North Fork of the Holston River. They were built to give people access to their cabins many decades ago, vs wading. Under some legal obligation they are owned and maintained by VA department of transportation.

A bridge much like what you pictured is parallel to the RR bridge that we are restoring. It is an attraction and we intend to not let VA abandon it. Most foot traffic and all the bike traffic will use the RR bridge but some will prefer the novelty of the suspension bridge.

all we lack is money

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

https://www.timesnews.net/living/outdoors/mendota-trail-quickly-becoming-an-area-gem/article_ed817a5a-332d-11eb-91fe-9f5f6ab41a0a.html

Good idea, all we lack is money to do something with good ideas. These suggestions are like telling someone begging on a street corner that he would look better in a puffy down coat.

This is rural Appalachia. Initially we had massive resistance from adjacent landowners that thought they owned the abandoned RR land. They lost every legal battle. Then we had spiteful land owners goading politicians to throw every obstacle they could muster in our path. The first trestle that was essential to get this project started cost over $500 a foot to restore because of the conjured and changing codes we had to meet. We were forbad to disturb ANY of the road bed without an environmental impact study for the entire 15 miles, $110,000. And on and on.

Most of the landowner resistance has collapsed. The recalcitrant bureaucrats have been replaced with ones more favorable to what we are doing. Politicians are now at worst neutral and some are becoming supportive. Private donors have stepped up. Success breeds more success.

So far all we have done is with private donations from people that like bike trails. Send us $50,000 and we can restore one short trestle in the gorge and you can name it. Fund a sculpture and you can name that.

One donor was so enthused with the trail idea that he simply bought out one of the adjacent landowners that laid claim to a parallel farm road that became essential to our cause because of a missing trestle. We think completion of this long bridge over a scenic and wild river will result in some government support to push our restoration into a scenic gorge. We may not have the money to put the cheapest code meeting bridge we can design across the river. But if we succeed we have commitment for funding the next two and a good chance of State support for as many as 5 more if we get tot he gorge on our own. Long term the goal is a State or County Park. In the mean time we are poor and we don't even have the funds to do any road bed improvements.

There are 17 trestles in need of restoration on this route. Current price for restoration runs about $350/ foot. They are falling into disrepair. We must at least get them stabilized for even the government could not rebuild them from scratch. Amazingly the timbers were clad in metal and if we get to them in time all that needs doing to the structure is splice in new wood at the ground contact area and replace cross bracing. When we pulled the cladding off there was fresh oozing creosote beneath.

Funding resource...

Jim Matthews

I would pony up real American dollars for Venison sausage, plus delivery.

No Creosote on mine, thanks.

(It gives me gas.)

Re: New large Project, need design ideas

William Duffield

Covered pedestrian foot bridge at Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Winston-Salem, NC.

https://www.ascenc.org/statewide-projects/2014/3/9/old-salem-pedestrian-bridge

Warning - This one is a big ticket item. I suspect you've been over it.

Sorry, thought you were looking for ideas

Dick Coers

And ways to draw in tourism. My mistake.

Re: New large Project, need design ideas

walta

In Missouri we did our tail to trail as a state park.

I am guessing it is the most visited park in the state by 5 or 10 times the number 2.

It is amazing how much maintenance work is required to keep the trail open.

This year we had a down pore 7 inches in 4 hours I washed away lots of the trail. They work 7 days a week keeping the fallen trees off the trail. Keeping the brush back is a constant battle.

As an economic engine I do not see it as a big draw. Yes we get a few out of state visitors but I do not see a lot of money being spent. A few B&Bs seem to have made it because of the trail.

This photo shows the most commonly used railing that was add to the old bridges.

Walta

Thanks

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Draw depends on scenery. The VA Creeper trial has an enormous economic impact in SW VA. There are 7 bike rental shops in tiny Damascus. This trail will be similar scenic.