Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

[Steve Smith]

That final picture of the group makes you realize how valuable it is to have a flat parking lot. I don't remember what Mother Nature had created there beforehand, but doubt it was that flat. So a big thank you to the volunteers who leveled it in the past.

[Roger Cole]

I'm sure there are reasons why the bridge is being assembled where it is, but from an armchair construction superintendent's viewpoint, it would seem easier to transport the pieces of the bridge and assemble it on-site once the piers are finished.  It would seem that the track could be extended to the south pier and the bottom chords transported via flatcar(s) and lifted into place with a much smaller (and cheaper) crane than a completed bridge would require.  The rest of the bridge could be transported in like manner.  Of course, I realize what works in one's head doesn't always work in practice.

[Mike Fox]

The bridge has to be assembled by Dec. 31, 2017. There is a signed contract between the National Preservation Society for Covered Bridges, National Park Service and Barns & Bridges of New England to cover assembly. To delay any further would be another extension that the National Park Service was not in favor of. So we build it.

[Roger Cole]

Gotcha!  That explains it.  I've always heard that you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth (unless it's a gigantic wooden one left in the middle of the night).

[John McNamara]

Can we construct it at Sheepscot, photograph it, number the pieces, disassemble it when the site is ready, and reconstruct it on-site?

[Joe Fox]

It makes sense to transport the bridge as one piece and set it in one shot once assembled. Saves money on transporting back and forth, saves hassel of trying to reassemble in place, and at that point we would basically be setting a pre-fabed bridge so that may make other things a little easier/different.

It makes sense to have the bridge ready for track before the track reaches it so it does not hault progress. Humason Brook was completed before the track got there, and it worked very well.

[James Patten]

We talked about using a house moving company to move and set the bridge.  Moving big objects is something they do, they know who to contact and what to get for permits, they'll have all the equipment needed to slide the bridge into place.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

We also want to minimize site work, so as to minimize potential environmental disturbance, and the time taken on site.  On site work must occur in the same work window that Mike was restricted to this summer; that work window must also include site prep, pile driving, abutment finishing, and final bridge setting.  Having the bridge arrive in one piece and set within a couple of days saves boatloads of time.

See ya
Jason

[Paul Uhland]

Ah, bureaucracy...don'tcha love it?
The job time limit and site restrictions seem over the top.
But, knowing how you guys work, the bridge/supports will be set correctly in the time agreed to, and the site returned to original condition. 
No doubt that clear, level, Sheepscot lot near tools and equipment, road access, will really help.

[Bob Holmes]

What do I know, but it might not be so difficult to bring the assembled bridge up from 218 along the current conservancy trail/ROW???

[Mike Fox]

http://m.wiscassetnewspaper.com/article/free-bridge-arrives-ww-f-museum-s-push-north/92989

[Jeff Schumaker]

Thanks for the link to the article, Mike. Hopefully, it will generate some donations.

Jeff S.

[Mike Fox]

Jason reports and supplied the pictures..

"Today we laid out 4 rows of cribbing, carefully leveled them, and placed the 4 chords in preparation of building the trusses.  They’ll be built on their side, prepped, and tipped inward until upright.  then the floor timbers will be brought in and attached from underneath"

[Bill Baskerville]

So that was what all the parking lot 'Casey' work was about Saturday afternoon.  Creating the flat spot to erect the bridge timbers. 

Another WW&F project continues to move along.

Bill

[Benjamin Campbell]

I know that at least some of the wood structure was damaged by fire and replaced. Are these longer members original or replacements?