A Build for the Ages

Posted on: 17 December 2021

A lot of bridges are made out of timber because this material is easy to track down and has a lot of durable qualities. If you're planning to construct a timber bridge of your own over some type of waterway, this advice can help you get through construction in a controlled way. 

Determine How the Bridge Will Be Used

The methods and materials you use to construct a timber bridge will depend on how this bridge is going to be used. For instance, if large commercial vehicles will be traveling across it all the time, then you need a timber bridge with a substantial maximum weight limit.

Or if the bridge will receive a lot of traffic, you may need to add multiple lanes to aid traffic in an effective manner. Thinking about the timber bridge's end use will help you design and build appropriately.

Create a Thorough Inspection Program for Timber Materials

In order for this timber bridge to be safe and last a long time, you need to use quality timber materials throughout this entire build. You'll feel better about this if you create a thorough inspection program for timber materials in particular.

All of your timber materials will go through this program before being deemed ready for bridge development. This is the best way to catch potential defects in timber, such as rot or warped sections. Timber that has these problems can be discarded and recycled for a different purposes.

Review Building and Environmental Regulations

There are regulations involved in building a timber bridge around a body of water. Not only are they in place to keep people safe, but they help protect the surrounding environment as well. It's thus an important task to review these regulations before getting started with constructing a timber bridge.

Are there any restrictions for where this bridge can be placed? Do you have to account for certain environmental factors? These are the questions you want answers to because it's going to help you remain compliant throughout this entire bridge development process. You might hire a bridge consultant to help with these assessments too, ensuring you do everything in a legal way.

If you're tasked with building a timber bridge over a body of water, how you approach this design and build is critical. You need to review major details and prove out designs before starting. That will keep timber bridge construction as refined as possible.