I have a reveen on my property that is around 100' across, and for years now the wife and me have been talking about building a good quality foot bridge that will alow us to cross the reveen and have access to the other part of our property without have to climb down it then back up to the other side. I'm looking for ideas " especially plans" on how to accoplish making a bridge across the reveen that would handle the weight of atleast two people and as stable as possible. I don't have any tree's in that area that i can cut down and use to cross the entire reveen. I want to keep the expense down since we're on a fixed income, yet something that will do the job and last for many years to come.

Can you help us?

-- Ron Noga (ronnoga@earthlink.net), December 30, 1999

Answers

Same message as above only a new email address.

ben32750@aol.com

Mail all info to new email address

Ron

-- Ron Noga (Ben32750@aol.com), January 03, 2000.

My best recommendation would be to locate and old Boy Scout Field Book. The older ones that are in black & white is what you want. While you're at it I'd recommend getting a hold of an older Pioneering Merit Badge booklet. You might try one of your local Scout Troops. I'm sure they'ed be willing to part with an older hand- me-down for a couple brand new copies for the troop library.

I recommend the older books because Scouts used to undertake these types of projects at summer camp and on some camp-outs. The new books put an emphasis on ecology and conservation methods and might not have what you're looking for.

Anyway, take some time and learn your knots, splices, and lashings. Practice a bit and soon you'll be ready to build a relatively cheap (but labor intensive) bridge that'll last for years. We had some paths at camp that only got replaced when some company donated the materials for a "proper" bridge....

-- Chris Stogdill (cstogdill@rmci.net), January 03, 2000.

It sounds to me like this might be a good candidate for a suspension bridge, using a couple of cables spaced 2-3' apart and stretched tight across the ravine, with the foot boards attached to the cables and hand rails (heavy nylon rope). For stretching if you dont't have a tractor or truck to pull it across a heavy come-along should do. Sometimes used cable can be found at the local junk yard for pennies per lb. Personally, I'd attach the foot boards to the cable with those nylon wire ties which are tougher than nails and long lasting. I'd also use a strong, weather resistant wood like treated deck boards, oak or cedar. Drain oil the cable real good before you stretch it just to give it a little xtra protection from rust and be sure to anchor it to something substantial on each end, like a big rock or tree. If you use a tree, try to insure that the cable will not cut into the tree and shorten its life.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 04, 2000.

I agree with John that a suspension bridge is the way to go. However, I recommend building it with a couple of one half or three-quarter inch diameter galvanized cables suspended across supports at each edge of the ravine, then anchored to large galvie anchors set into concrete "dead men" twenty-five or thirty feet outside the ravines at each end. Dead men should be about five cubic yards each.

The resulting cable pair will resemble the Golden Gate Bridge--look on the net or an encyclopedia, if you haven't seen it. The cables can safely sag in the middle, because they don't have to be stretched tight to do the job. Just make sure the center of the sag is at least three feet higher than the walkway.

The walkway can be hung from the main cables with 3/8" galvanized cable, using cable clamps. The bottom of these cables will be attached to either timbers (6x6 pressure treated, ideally), or some other suitable material, such as steel pipe. Hang these 3/8" cables every three feet or so, so you can run a couple of 2x12" pressure treated boards parallel to the bridge for a walking surface. The 2x12's should be secured to the 6x6's with spikes or lag screws.

Place hand rails also parallelling the bridge about three feet above the walkway, secured to the 3/8" cables. Voila. It will be functional, and a thing of beauty.

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), January 25, 2000.

Oops. Forgot to mention that you should put stock wire or something similar below the handrail and down to the walkway, so little people can't fall off the bridge.

Good luck, I hope you have a great bridge soon!

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), January 25, 2000.

Ron! Check your email. I have a new email addy and server.

-- K.D. "hoot" Gibson (hoot@wworld.com), January 25, 2000.

Ron,

My husband is a crane operator and they change the cables on the cranes as routine mantinance from time to time. Perhaps that might be a good local source for your cable.

-- Cinnamon (homesteader145@yahoo.com), January 25, 2000.