How do you build a bridge over a small ditch?

Question

I am putting in a new driveway and need to put in some sort of bridge to go over a small ditch to gain access to my property.

Any suggestions on how to do this?

Answer 1

a few 2x4s under a piece of plywood would work fine.

Answer 2

Unless your made of money,culverts is the most cost effective.Make sure it is of the correct diameter,could take 2 side by side.Make sure you use a good backfill ie road base or class 6 recycled concrete (I prefer recycled) as it get harder.

If culverts can't handle heavy run off it could wash away your drive.Some sort of protection at ends such as rip rap or concrete to help prevent erosion.

Answer 3

Step1Determine what type of bridge you need for the situation. The common types are arch, suspension, truss, cable-stayed and beam types. If you're crossing a short span, you probably only need to build a beam or a small truss bridge. If you're crossing a deep ravine, an arch bridge might be the best choice. A bridge to span an ocean bay requires the very expensive suspension bridge.

Step2Identify an ideal place to build the bridge. A lot of legwork goes into determining the ideal site to build anything, and when you're talking about something as expensive as a bridge, engineers are even more careful. The engineering team will send out surveyors, people who use electronic measuring devices to make a map of the general area. From this map, they will make calculations and determine the length and placement of the bridge.

Step3Design the bridge. The engineer will take into account the potential traffic load of the bridge and use ASTM steel design manuals, computer programs and drafters to aid in the bridge designing process. The materials chosen should also take into consideration the inspection and upkeep costs after the bridge is built.

Bridge Construction

Step1Break ground. Once the design has been finalized and stamped with approval, the actual building can begin. This will involve excavation or filling the banks on either side, stabilizing the ground where the supports will be placed and, depending on what type of bridge is going to be built, pouring concrete.

Step2Assemble the steel. Some bridges are built on site and some are put together in pieces small enough to ship to the location and then assembled. Using the anchors placed in the concrete, the steel is put together like tinker toys using nuts and bolts.

Step3Build the decking for the bridge. This is usually concrete, but can also be aluminum and new engineered composite materials which resists corrosion, decreasing bridge replacement costs.

Step4Pave the new bridge. This is done with commercial paving machines. The government agency sponsoring the project might also include a repaving of the surrounding roadway as well.

Step5Have the ribbon cutting ceremony. Building a bridge is a tremendous accomplishment. After months or possibly years of building this bridge the dust can settle and the public can finally use it.

Answer 4

There are several ways to do this.One you could install concrete drain pipes, and fill in over, this way the drain will do it's job and you have your access. Two, you could use railway sleepers, method......bed in 3 sleepers across the ditch, and lay the remainder along the ditch, on top of the three you have just bedded in securely. Strap all sleepers together with either Angle Iron, or Flat Iron, hey presto you have your access. So, pipe it, or bridge it. You could also use half inch metal plate, but this is cumbersome.

Answer 5

Depends on a multitude of factors

e.g. span of bridge,what will the bridge be used to carry, foot traffic , cars, commercial vehicles, how often will it be used etc and the available budget and how aesthetically pleasing you want it to be.

For a cheap and cheerful solution to get your car across every now & then i would put some concrete strip footings down on either side and bridge the ditch with 15mm steel road plate.

A precast pipe of the appropriate diameter could be dropped in and haunched with concrete or for a more permanent solution some concrete abutments founded on good ground on either bank with some pre-cast planks bridging the ditch would be slightly more costly but would allow you to have some parapets etc.

Answer 6

You will have to get the regs from your local authority.  Health and safety issues must be dealt with.  The ditch is probably a water way for flood water or something like that or the ditch would not be there.  You will have to take into account the heaviest vehicle that is going to cross it.  Basically it sounds like concrete tube for water flow.  Reinforced concrete posts across gap with further concrete poured on that.

Answer 7

as navi says you need to consult a structural engineer, a bridge for traffic is a serious undertaking. also consult those who are responsible for the ditch, if you block/restrict it what happens to the water

Answer 8

To take the weight of traffic? I suggest a large concrete pipe backfilled with different grades of stone, smaller as you rise, if it is a water filled ditch.