Post by percypeaks on Sept 21, 2009 7:13:18 GMT -5
Just off the River Road in Pittsburg there is a fine little covered bridge. You can see it when you reach the road from the Lake Francis Trail.
Pittsburg has two other small covered bridges, as well. Stark has a New England classic, probably one of the most photographed covered bridges on earth. Littleton has a terrific new one, a foot bridge, over the Gale River.
It occurred to me that trails in the U.S. would benefit greatly by covered bridge structures. They last a long long time, while uncovered bridges have to have components replaced constantly.
On the Cohos Trail, I could see small covered foot bridges in quite a few places, like over the Israel River, Rowell Brook, Pike Brook, Clear Stream (in two places), and even Big Brook well below the highway bridge.
With concrete pad-pier foundation footings, pressure treated span timbers below, an inexpensive metal roof overhead, and 1-inch board siding, such a simple covered bridge would last for decades. It would cost more to produce, of course, but it would cost infinitely less to maintain.
And think of the draw factor. People love covered bridges (even small ones). Covered footbridges (too narrow for most powered vehicles), if built to be pleasing to the eye, would draw visitors to them and hikers to the trail. They could even be emergency shelters in horrific weather.
Just thinking out loud because I couldn't sleep too well last night.
percypeaks
Pittsburg has two other small covered bridges, as well. Stark has a New England classic, probably one of the most photographed covered bridges on earth. Littleton has a terrific new one, a foot bridge, over the Gale River.
It occurred to me that trails in the U.S. would benefit greatly by covered bridge structures. They last a long long time, while uncovered bridges have to have components replaced constantly.
On the Cohos Trail, I could see small covered foot bridges in quite a few places, like over the Israel River, Rowell Brook, Pike Brook, Clear Stream (in two places), and even Big Brook well below the highway bridge.
With concrete pad-pier foundation footings, pressure treated span timbers below, an inexpensive metal roof overhead, and 1-inch board siding, such a simple covered bridge would last for decades. It would cost more to produce, of course, but it would cost infinitely less to maintain.
And think of the draw factor. People love covered bridges (even small ones). Covered footbridges (too narrow for most powered vehicles), if built to be pleasing to the eye, would draw visitors to them and hikers to the trail. They could even be emergency shelters in horrific weather.
Just thinking out loud because I couldn't sleep too well last night.
percypeaks
