The Breakroom > The Water Cooler

Building a Bridge

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naffsharpe (Nathan):
Steve , that looks like a 15/18 tonne machine , if so , your math looks as good as usual ! I've seen 21 tonne (PC210) and 35 tonne machines work on much more flimsy structures than your bridge . PC 350/450 were not uncommon in my previous employment working in very delicate situations, operator skills can make a problematic situation run of the mill. As always I'm enjoying your posts, I'd never realised the extent that you ( and others) would have to go to cope for future rainfall events. Keep the photo's and report going, I'm loving it !! Nathan.

vtsteam:
John and Nathan, re settlement -- of interest is that Dave first built coffer dams to enclose the stream, using the big crushed rock you see as rip-rap stone, then he excavated 2' below stream grade behind the dams and filled that excavated bed with smaller crushed stone. That's what the blocks were placed on. BTW the material removed was very bony anyway, so I think the foundation is really good. I'm sure there will be minor adjustment over time, but we have expansion joints naturally with the block construction, vs a solid poured abutment.

Dave said he would be back-filling tomorrow starting at 8:00 sharp. He said he has decided to only put the excavator tracks a few feet onto the bridge from the north abutment, because he has enough reach, and then put a massive pile behind the south abutments -- built up much higher than them initially, because he can't tamp it down as well from as far away. Once it's big enough he'll cross. The dump truck will be dropping off to the south of him initially.

The first step will be placing the 3 north end blocks against the bridge beams, then filling behind them, then venturing to his loading position.

Fingers crossed, depending on how it goes, I might actually be able to drive my pickup truck across tomorrow evening.  :dremel:

awemawson:
Sounds like good progress Steve  :thumbup:

I know that you said Dave formed a track for the lorries initially, is there much to do to make the roadway, or is it close to your previous access road?

vtsteam:
Andrew, I had roughed in a second lower drive last year with the old Ford 850. That was also what we built the concrete blocks on. But Dave is upgrading it and fairing it into the bridge. Here he is spreading crushed stone gravel on the north side. We've already placed the last abutment blocks against the bridge beams here.:

(ps. the larger stack of blocks in the background were commercial blocks, which we had rejected last month, in favor of casting our own. Long story, but they weren't suitable for abutments, both Dave and I agreed.)

vtsteam:
The dump truck had a 14 yard capacity. It dropped off in front of Dave on the excavator after he had ventured a few feet onto the bridge.

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