Maintaining forest roads and trails is important to provide reliable access to the woods for management, recreation, research and education. Frost Valley YMCA’s 50-foot bridge over the West Branch of the Neversink River is the gateway to their 300+ acre Model Forest. The bridge’s white oak decking had over 20 years of service, but by the spring of 2023 it was due for replacement.
This particular bridge is a hinged, portable bridge made by ADM Welding & Fabrication, LLC of Warren, PA.
It had been a few years since the WAC Forestry Program’s last bridge decking replacement, but we were eager to shake the rust off and enjoy a few days of manual labor in the spring sunshine. Just like last time, the process began by removing the nuts and bolts that secure the bridge decking inside the frame.
Tom and Karl removed the old bridge decking and stockpiled it next to the bridge. At the same time, Andrew and I shuttled loads of lumber from a storage area about 1 mile away. We used chainsaws to cut the lumber to the desired length of about 58.5 inches. We made sure to limit the gap in the bridge where we were working to avoid anyone falling through!
Karl removing the nuts and bolts that clamp the angle bar on the lumber within the frame.
Old lumber stockpiled.
Andrew placing a new plank in the frame.
White oak is quite dense (47 pounds per cubic foot), so this meant lots of team lifts and sharpening of saw chains.
Andrew sharpening his saw.
With the help of Frost Valley Model Forest coordinator Dan Dechellis, we were able to complete one half of the bridge in one day.
Karl and Dan adding the new decking.
The work was physically demanding, but we made sure to take plenty of breaks.
Lunch break on the river.
Once a section of decking was completed, we replaced the angle bar and nuts and bolts.
Andrew and Karl replacing the nuts and bolts.
Bolt and nut.
Karl putting in the last of the new decking, while Tom does the final tightening of nuts and bolts.
After 2 full days of work, the job was done! Hopefully we can get another 20 years out of the new bridge decking. WAC purchased the lumber for this job from Quality Hardwoods in Sidney, NY. The lumber was cut to the following dimensions: 3.5 inches thick x random widths (6-8 inches) x 10 feet long. The total volume purchased was 1,900 board feet and cost $2,470. In the end, we had about 10 or so boards to spare. 75 nuts and bolts cost $62.78.
Job done.
