One of the shooting instructors at my range bought 10 acres of property cheap as you could only get to about 3/4 of one acre. The rest was across a 11' deep by 22' wide seasonal creek - - - this summer the water dropped. The town of Frankton had been dumping old sidewalks and curbs on the 3/4 acre so it was a mess.
I used the old curbing and doug down to hardpan and made supports on both sides of the creek. I had to throw the curbing as far as I could from one side then walk the backhoe to the other side and retrieve what I had thrown in. I sold him 2 old flatbed semi trailers I had and started a crossing.
this is the first trailer going in.
Far end on the old curbs.
Near end.
Getting ready to pull the second trailer into place.
Side by side and welded together at this end - - - I still had to level the far end.
Due to the uneven concrete the red trailer was up about 8" so witht he far end welded I marked the concrete and moved the red trailer over about a foot and jack hammered the concrete then put the trailer back - - - level now so we welded this end.
After leveling I had to build a 3' approach to the east end and a 5' approach to the west end - - - both long enough for easy transitions.
Much easier to drive across than to lift the backhoe with both buckets to cross - - - I had about 2" of tires on the rails!
Starting to look better - - - still doing a little cutting and welding - - - the customer wanted to stand on the bridge as I drove the truck across to see how much give I had - - - he could not feel any movement - - - but the trailers were rated at 50,000# each when new and if you stay in the middle the load is shared - - - I have about a 6" weld every 4' all across.
Close to being done - - - the decking is old floor joist that had been stacked in the barn for about 20 years - - - I told him to get them sealed ASAP. After they have driven over it for a couple of weeks I will reshape the approaches the put crushed stone over them. We are going to put hand rails down both sides and I will try to remember to post pictures of the project after it is complete.
I used the old curbing and doug down to hardpan and made supports on both sides of the creek. I had to throw the curbing as far as I could from one side then walk the backhoe to the other side and retrieve what I had thrown in. I sold him 2 old flatbed semi trailers I had and started a crossing.
this is the first trailer going in.
Far end on the old curbs.
Near end.
Getting ready to pull the second trailer into place.
Side by side and welded together at this end - - - I still had to level the far end.
Due to the uneven concrete the red trailer was up about 8" so witht he far end welded I marked the concrete and moved the red trailer over about a foot and jack hammered the concrete then put the trailer back - - - level now so we welded this end.
After leveling I had to build a 3' approach to the east end and a 5' approach to the west end - - - both long enough for easy transitions.
Much easier to drive across than to lift the backhoe with both buckets to cross - - - I had about 2" of tires on the rails!
Starting to look better - - - still doing a little cutting and welding - - - the customer wanted to stand on the bridge as I drove the truck across to see how much give I had - - - he could not feel any movement - - - but the trailers were rated at 50,000# each when new and if you stay in the middle the load is shared - - - I have about a 6" weld every 4' all across.
Close to being done - - - the decking is old floor joist that had been stacked in the barn for about 20 years - - - I told him to get them sealed ASAP. After they have driven over it for a couple of weeks I will reshape the approaches the put crushed stone over them. We are going to put hand rails down both sides and I will try to remember to post pictures of the project after it is complete.
