There have been massive increases in the cost of materials and processing in recent months.
They are far greater than many of us have seen in our working lives.
Rising Inflation is adding to the problem
We need to beware of the likely consequences of these developments
The subsitution of poor quality timber and inadequate processing would deliver competitive benefits to unscrupulous suppliers. Using cheaper, less good, fixings and importantly the finishes on fixings will lead to shorter bridge lives and more maintenance and sooner.
Users now expect to feel secure on bridge... Read More
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council have a long standing process for supplying attractive bridges at very cost effective rates.
They have their own standard designs, buy the materials locally, construct foundations in an unorthodox but satisfactory way and erect the bridges for modest costs.
They use kerb stones with great ingenuity and have developed an “entire civilisation” based on this approach. Sophisticated and complex sites have been tamed with this approach.
As with any success there are critics!
Disabled Activists protest that the narrow width and steps prevent a... Read More
How long can a wooden bridge get?
Wood has been and is still used for long span bridges in Scandinavia and the US.
They are often covered to provide additional weather protection to the structural timbers.
In the UK we are more conservative and tend to go to steel for the load bearing elements at shorter spans.
The most commonly required bridges are less than 15m for pedestrian and cyclist users.
Wood is the most economical solution up to about 8m span. Once this length is exceeded the size of the sections required and their availability in timber of the quality required are deterrents.
The Bridge En... Read More
Why have cranked parapets?
Why have cranked parapets?
People are not the same width. Their width at ankle level is small. They get wider at Hip Height and maximum width at shoulder level particularly if carrying a rucksack.
Narrower decks have lighter loads and can have smaller beams
Unfortunately the posts taper and are weakened especially the coring strength of the wood near the fixings
We can offset this by using wider washers or plates.
Read More
Boardwalks are a blessing
As a measure to protect sensitive environments, prevent erosion and make it practical for members of the public to enjoy wild spaces, without feeling at risk, boardwalks are the solution.
They can be used on the coast, in moorland, march, mountain or farmland.
In some locations they are highly seductive and draw people away from the hubbub of life into wild and special places. They provide a proximity and intimacy with the environment without comparison.
Less mobile people feel secure on them, provided they are correctly designed and are structurally sound.
Small k... Read More
Why are Kit Bridges so popular?
Building a kit bridge brings a community together. Shared memories and a sense ownership of the bridge appeals across the ages.
IKEA has taught us all how to follow instructions and each kit is supplied with detailed instructions. If there is any nervousness we can supply a Supervisor to either offer advice or to organize the job.
Volunteer Groups can supply and install a bridge and make it affordable
After the recent floods there are many site which need new bridges and the local authorities lack the funds to pay for them. Community Action is often the only alte... Read More
Why use Steel and Timber Bridges?
Our name is missleading!
We are on of the major suppliers of bridges with steel beams and timber deck and parapets.
As the bridges get longer the use of timber beams becomes an issue.
The stiffness of the beam is achived, as the span increased, by incresing the depth of the beams and/or the thickness of the beams.
The beams get huge and become hard for our kit bridge useres to manage on site.
Our prefered installers mutter darkly when given bridges with huge beams.
In softwood we run into 3 issues.
Firstly:
The avaliablity of beaming in... Read More
