Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Bridge progress
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
We got post and rails to the observation deck. The goal is to get an OSHA compliant amount of rail up so we can remove the cable safety rail that is in the way for decking. Then we will deck which will enable us to move lumber across the bridge by cart and our lumber cutting will move along the bridge. This bridge is 273 feet long and that is too far to carry boards by hand.
How do you like this last shipment of lumber?
Re: Bridge progress
Mark Mandell
Nice clear stock
Hope y'all are going to put another rail in lower to keep small people from falling through.
Bridge Rail
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
We do actually know what we are doing. Safety cabling designed for bridge I-beams is not designed to add pedestrian bridge deck and rail along side it.
Working off this "floor" is a nightmare, harnessed or not.
Ideally we would like to deck first then rail. But can't do anything without an OSHA rail or cable or a place to hook harness to. And we can't deck with the cable hardware in place. The cabld is there to get ties, curbs and runners down in the I-beams.
Solution: Get an OSAH compliant rail down one side, remove cable, add deck, then add remaining rail and obviously add pedestrian compliant rail down both sides.
So what is a rail that meets code? Take your pick.......Forest Service has 4 rail codes depending on where the bridge is located. American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials has two codes depending on the phase of the moon. State of VA has a guideline, a rail too high for women to see over. Rails to Trails organization has guidelines. Etc. A commissioned study by American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials determined the rail codes were arbitrary and not based on any research or data on what a rail had to accomplish and how to accomplish it. Accidents where rail height was a factor were virtually non-existent and never involved a dirt trail bridge.
The most useful guidance I found was a study of how high a rail needed to be to provide people a sense of security on a high bridge.
Our rail is as high and robust as that over the Golden Gate Bridge. Good enough.
Re: Bridge progress
William Duffield
You could make several very nice Nicholson style benches and/or a herd of shaving horses with that stack of SYP 2x's. I'm not intending to demean in any way the use you are making with it.
Re: Bridge progress
Roy
One thing to consider when making rails on pedestrian bridges is the height so bicycle riders can't go over the side.
Roy
Re: Bridge progress
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
Would you be interested in reading the research and recommendations from the various entities that weigh in on this topic? I have a large file on this topic.
Re: Bridge progress
Bruce, a MN Galoot
Bill, has this project become an elephant, a mouse built by a committee? I don’t know how you can satisfy everyone.
No
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
One retired RR engineer who specializes in Rails to Trails projects is doing the design. However, he has no motivation to control cost. Hence, I am doing the looking to cut cost without sacrificing quality.
To cut cost I need to learn this kind of engineering, trail building, material specification, etc. We have cut about half the cost from this bridge.