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| BRIDGE SPAN BEAMS |
Riding along rural roads you are apt to run into all kinds of situations.
While travelling down one of my local one lane roads, I came to a halt by the deconstruction of a wooden bridge. This was literally the end of the road for me. I got out of my truck and took a few photos as I was amazed at the size of the old lumber that was being removed.
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| OLD CROSSWISE BRIDGE PLANKS THROWN ASIDE |
The construction was pretty basic. Under the spam beams were metal sheaths aligned flat against each side of the banks. The beams rested on the upper lips of the metal sheaths -- this was their only support. Thick planks had laid crosswise on the beams but were now removed and were thrown off to the side of the road. No side rails for this bridge. I guessed the span was about as long as a large truck. That was it. A rather primitive road-bridge but serving the public to cross over the creek.
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| CREEK FLOWING UNDER BEAMS RESTING ON METAL SHEATH LIP |
The creek was flowing low beneath the bridge. It looked rather small to me but probably in a good downpour it could gather itself and rise.
I had no choice but to turn around and head back toward a main road. A truck was coming the other way and pulled over to let me pass by. I paused as I passed to question the man driving -- asking why the bridge was being taken apart. By coincidence, the man worked for the county and he told me the bridge was being replaced by a cement one.
I later thought that the old bridge looked like it had many years left in it. But what do I know about the viability of wooden bridge construction.
