October 17, 2009
(Pictures Courtesy of John Higgins)
A group of eight volunteers completed work on four more bridges on Corridor 11. Two of the bridges were steel beam bridges and required welding of beams and cross bracing while the other two of the bridges were wood beam bridges.
(From October 10th weekend) Eric and Roger haul out old rotten bridge materials for disposal at a recycling center.
The first task of the day is to build two 12' bridges over two small streams where there used to be culverts. The WMNF does not like culverts in trails because they can get plugged up and then cause the streams to leave their normal channels and carve out new paths down the mountain. In this case, there is a gravel road located 1/2 mile downhill from the trail. By removing the culverts and building bridges instead, it gives more room for water to flow and lessens the chance of the stream relocating itself and damaging the roadway below.
Larry determines the center of the trail while Chris, Jake and Eric unload tools.
Before the first bridge is done, our Paslode nail gun jams so we are forced to hammer in the nails by hand.
Eric snaps guide lines for installing the runners on the second bridge.
After lots of hand nailing, the two bridges are just about done.
Our next project is decking over a 25' steel bridge. From left to right is Matt, Mike, Larry, Eric, Chris and Jake. Hidden from view is Shawn who is welding in cross bracing.
A better view of Shawn welding the bridge beams to the base steel plate. The base steel plate is actually a steel I-beam laid on its side with cutouts for the steel carrying beams. Each of the carrying beams is welded to the base steel plate and then an angle brace is welded on each end of the carrying beam so it cannot tip over. Finally, cross bracing is welded in between each carrying beam.
Mike drills some holes so the stringers can be bolted to the beams. Note the club welder in the background which has a generator, electric arc welder and gas torches installed on a trailer chassis so it can be easily transported into the woods by an ATV.
The crew has finished with the first steel bridge and starts packing to move to the next steel bridge. The entire deck had to be hand nailed, so it took a lot longer than it normally would to complete the job.
Mike tows his trailer to the next bridge while Matt hitches a ride.
Chris and Jake use an Arctic Cat Prowler donated by Jericho Motorsports to transport tools and supplies to the next bridge. Eric tows a trailer that will be used to take out unused materials or trash lumber from the next bridge site.
When the crew got to the second bridge, a problem with the torches prevented Shawn from cutting steel bracing and burning holes for the stringer bolts. Shawn used the arc welder to burn holes for the stringers and Larry used a rechargeable saws all to cut up the steel angle iron for bracing.
At the end of a long day and in spite of two breakdowns, the second steel bridge (in the background) is completed and the crew packs up and gets ready to head out of the woods.
The crew prepares to load up the ATV's and trailers. It is a 5-mile drive along dirt roads to get out of the woods and back onto the main road.
