30 replies to this topic

[Nice Rumble]

Took a ride down to the river to take my first ride over the infamous Hero's Bridge. Wow, is that thing long and wide. I think three sleds could cross at the same time. I salute the visionary, Dave Murray. Your perseverance paid off. If you build a bridge, riders will come.





Sure beats trying your luck on the ice which there was not enough to make the crossing today.

[nhgator]

How's the trails that way? worth going for a ride tomorrow?

[Iggy]

I don't see the wooden deck or the fencing that Dave says has to be installed prior to use. Maybe he can pipe in on this subject...Pictures sure look cool though...Looks like others have used it already as well.

[rivercat]

Iggy, on Jan 3 2009, 05:07 PM, said:

I don't see the wooden deck or the fencing that Dave says has to be installed prior to use. Maybe he can pipe in on this subject...Pictures sure look cool though...Looks like others have used it already as well.

Iggy your right.... altho the city has agreed to let traffic across this year without something to protest the deck..... they asked to not officially open the bridge until the fence is up. we have had some delays with the holidays.... so I am looking the other way, rather than dissappoint travelers. Note to all,,, try to not tear up the deck... I think we'll be ok without wood,, Its all about LIABILITY!
BTW nice pictures,, looks WAY better over the river than in the field! I feel like it will take me a while to "decompress" from this project..... but the hurdles have ALREADY been worth the fight,,

[Iggy]

Dave the least you can do is put up signs asking riders not to "goose" it while on the bridge. Actually it might do more damage to the snowmobile tracks and studs then the bridge itself if the rider decides to get a little throttle happy while on the bridge...

[rivercat]

Iggy, on Jan 3 2009, 06:36 PM, said:

Dave the least you can do is put up signs asking riders not to "goose" it while on the bridge. Actually it might do more damage to the snowmobile tracks and studs then the bridge itself if the rider decides to get a little throttle happy while on the bridge...

The trouble is ,,, with sign, the "idea" is presented to everyone,,,, without a sign, maybe some will not think of it... you may be right, it could do more damage to the sled!,, the idea of something to protect the deck was mine.

[dualmass]

The entire project is amazing, dave should feel good for quite a long, long time.
Image IF everyone put that much effort into make things better???

Edited by dualmass, 03 January 2009 - 09:56 PM.

[Nice Rumble]

nhgator, on Jan 3 2009, 06:01 PM, said:

How's the trails that way? worth going for a ride tomorrow?

The trails are frozen concrete with some loose powder on top. It's rough and bumpy but it is riding. Not the best but it will make a good base for the next big storm. If your itching to ride it's OK. I've seen worse. No overheating problems.

[Bilbo]

Looks Awsome Dave.

[rivercat]

Bilbo, on Jan 3 2009, 10:46 PM, said:

Looks Awsome Dave.

Thanks SO much you guys...

the funny part is the cat really isn't out of the bag yet,,,, I laugh at the comments from people.,,,,, today I was picking up some reflector tape at Home Depot for the bridge, and saw a fellow who was in the equipment 'Industry".... I mentioned I was picking up 'stuff for the bridge" he looked at me puzzled and said. "Is this the one you started years ago?" I said "yep" ,,, he then said "THE BRIDGE IS DONE?" ,,,,,,,,," YEP"...... "who built it?" ............. WE DID,,,,, HE THEN SAID "I know you did the project but who built the bridge"?.. I then said "ME, Jimmy Burdette, Norm L, Bobby and several guys from the club, neighborhood,club, and nearby clubs,...... Then he said "who ran the crane?" ,,,,,,, I replied "we didn't use one"........... by that point he was dumbfounded.

It is a great feeling to be done ,,,,, and a greater feeling to know how many will be able to enjoy it!

[RayC]

I replied "we didn't use one"........... by that point he was dumbfounded.


Hey Rivercat...
Just keep it simple.......Santa left it...................

Edited by PHAZERMAN, 04 January 2009 - 06:00 PM.

[snownut#2]

Dave,

Next time you talk about the bridge like that, tell them that the bridge was designed to be built by Indian Elephants but you chose to use a backhoe instead.

[f-5snopro]

where is that bridge?

[rivercat]

f-5snopro, on Jan 4 2009, 06:42 PM, said:

where is that bridge?

Hi F-5 go back in the forum to the one titled " nearly the end of the bridge pics, a view from another photographer" for directions and comments and WELCOME to the site!

Snow nut#2 have you seen the erection manual to the A-300 bridge? are you a bridge contractor? how'd you know about the elephant?
for those who are wondering what i am talking about , they have a picture of an elephant lifting a transom into place in the manual, VERY few people would know of that information,,,,,

Edited by rivercat, 04 January 2009 - 11:04 PM.

[snownut#2]

Long story, but the short of it is I drafted the plans for the first Acrow Panel bridge to be assembled in NH after the one fell on Contocook day before Thanksgiving several years ago killing a couple workers. Prior to that the State required no plans or directions for erecting or dis-assembling the bridge. That style bridge ie; Bailey & Acrow where initially designed so that elephants could carry all parts to assemble, max weight of each individual part had to be under 660#. All directions from Acrow utilized elephants not cranes like they are assembled today along our highways for temporary bridges. Bridge looks great by the way, i wish i had the time to see you push it across the river, but i couldn't make it.

[slushpup]

snownut#2, on Jan 5 2009, 04:48 PM, said:

Long story, but the short of it is I drafted the plans for the first Acrow Panel bridge to be assembled in NH after the one fell on Contocook day before Thanksgiving several years ago killing a couple workers. Prior to that the State required no plans or directions for erecting or dis-assembling the bridge. That style bridge ie; Bailey & Acrow where initially designed so that elephants could carry all parts to assemble, max weight of each individual part had to be under 660#. All directions from Acrow utilized elephants not cranes like they are assembled today along our highways for temporary bridges. Bridge looks great by the way, i wish i had the time to see you push it across the river, but i couldn't make it.

Small world, that accident had to have been 15 years ago.The bridge wound up at State surplus in Concord when I was running the White Farm.If I remember correctly The workers removed some pins while it was erected???

[Area 51]

Did you say a bridge fell in NH a while ago? Where was it?

snownut#2, on Jan 5 2009, 04:48 PM, said:

Long story, but the short of it is I drafted the plans for the first Acrow Panel bridge to be assembled in NH after the one fell on Contocook day before Thanksgiving several years ago killing a couple workers. Prior to that the State required no plans or directions for erecting or dis-assembling the bridge. That style bridge ie; Bailey & Acrow where initially designed so that elephants could carry all parts to assemble, max weight of each individual part had to be under 660#. All directions from Acrow utilized elephants not cranes like they are assembled today along our highways for temporary bridges. Bridge looks great by the way, i wish i had the time to see you push it across the river, but i couldn't make it.

[snownut#2]

It was a temporary bridge @ intersection of Rte 89 and 202/9 while they where rebuilding the bridge that is there today. In the mad dash to get the project wrapped up before winter they had a couple workers on the bridge pulling pins so they could move it with a crane. Well someone pulled the wrong pin and the bridge collapsed all this happened the day before Thanksgiving. At the time there where no instructions or plans for crane based assembly or dis-assembly of these bridges, the DOT immediately put a halt on all crane assisted work until the manufacturer could provide instructions for this process.

Edited by snownut#2, 05 January 2009 - 07:41 PM.

[MATTtheCATZR800]

excellent job great pics cant wait to see it live

[rivercat]

snownut#2, on Jan 5 2009, 07:39 PM, said:

It was a temporary bridge @ intersection of Rte 89 and 202/9 while they where rebuilding the bridge that is there today. In the mad dash to get the project wrapped up before winter they had a couple workers on the bridge pulling pins so they could move it with a crane. Well someone pulled the wrong pin and the bridge collapsed all this happened the day before Thanksgiving. At the time there where no instructions or plans for crane based assembly or dis-assembly of these bridges, the DOT immediately put a halt on all crane assisted work until the manufacturer could provide instructions for this process.

The strange part is ,i am not sure the contractor had the A300 manual but it is NOT rocket science,,, without the manual they were flying in the dark.... one of the two guys who lost their life that day i knew his family and his in laws.. In general NOTHING is to be taken apart when the bridge is in a launched position