Foot Bridge

[dfish67]

Hello,
Does anyone have recomendations/experience for a wear surface on foot/bycicle bridge? This is a rehabilitation project on a 600ft wood truss (vehicle) bridge. The structural deck is a combination laminated panels and spanwise beams (all wood). The whole deck is solid (no penetrations). I suspect that rough cut lumber is the best choice but I'm not sure about the type/treatment and such. Will water be an issue to the wear surface if it is attached directly to the deck? What type of water barrier should be used between the deck and the wear surface?

Thanks
Damon

 

[jheidt2543]

What I've been seeing lately for bridge decks for parks, bike trails and snowmobile trails is a deck of 2x10 Southern Pine 2400f MSR rated, ACQ treated lumber. I not sure what the wear life of the 2x10 has been.

When a wearing deck is required over the 2x10, they have been using 2x6 rough sawn oak. The oak will turn black as it weathers, but it does stand up to the snowmobile traffic pretty well, it doesn't have to be preservative treated and it can be replaced as needed.

 

[Rich2001]

IPE wood is a high resign hardwood that is now being utilized for many pedestrian bridge decks. Though it is expensive and cutting and drilling is arduous, it is beautiful wood that is impervious to rot, fungi, molds and insects. In addition, it is naturally fire resistant.

http://ipe-wood.com/faq.html

Vita sine litteris mors est.

 

[WoodGuy]

Asphalt wearing suface with a geotextile fabric. Look at this website for more information

http://spfnic.fs.fed.us/wit/WITpubs/PubSearch.cfm

and use a catagory of surfacing.

The asphalt surfacing should give you the best life for your decking but you can use a treated timber wearing suface with a waterbourne Preservative, but not CCA, while EPA has restricted it's use with the wood treatment industry.

 

[DRC1]

We use 2x lumber for temp. walkways for the public. the problem is that when it gets wet it gets slippey. We use a bright yellow sand paint. The yellow provides the visibility and the sand provides traction.

 

[jheidt2543]

I would have to question puting blacktop over a wood deck. My suspision is that water could get trapped at the interface and result in quicker damage to the wood deck. Does anyone have actual experiance with this?

 

[WoodGuy]

Asphalt paving over timber decking is a standard practice for timber bridges. Two publications that are free from the Wood in Transportation Website and FPL are "Guidelines for Design, Installation and Maintenance of a Waterproof Wearing Surface for Timber Bridge Decks" and "Asphalt Paving of Treated Timber Bridge Decks". I worked for the Wood-in-Transporatation and will answer any questions you have on it.