CRADLE CONSTRUCTION

Phase 1 to Save the Covered Bridge

Detailed Construction of the Temporary Cradle

Part 1 of 2

Introduction

When final reconstruction of the bridge is complete, almost all traces of the temporary cradle will have been removed. The photos on this and an accompanying page, taken by John Field and Shirley Moon, will be the primary record of this important step in saving the covered bridge at Bridgeport.

Underside of the South End of the Bridge

Underside of South End of Bridge

Underside of the south end of the bridge (Visitor Center end) just before beginning cradle construction in earnest.

 

(September 18, 2014, contractor: Camblin Steel Service, Inc., Rocklin, CA; 916-644-1300)

Underside of the North End of the Bridge

Half of Audience

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forms for South-end Piers.

Zoomed View

Zoomed View

In this zoomed view of the far end you can see a cross beam of the cradle (mostly in shadow, tucked under the bridge) and the concrete piers on the shoreline on which the columns are secured.

Concrete Piers

Concrete Piers

Concrete piers after forms were removed.

Modern Bridge

Modern Bridge

Modern bridge in background confirms this is the south end of the bridge.

Enormous Hole

Enormous Hole

Enormous hole dug at south end for high-strength steel rod anchors.

Concrete Trucks

Concrete Trucks

Three trucks full of concrete to fill the hole.

 

 

 

Pumping Concrete

Pumping Concrete

Begin pumping concrete into the hole

Pumping Continues

Pumping Continues

Continue pumping. Note the rebar cage for one of the steel rod anchors, which will be included in the pour.

 

The purpose of the massive block of concrete is to provide mass and friction for the anchors.

Still Pouring

Still Pouring

Still pouring Note the anchor rebar cages aligned with each side of the bridge.

 

(December 19, 2014)

Concrete Pour Complete

Concrete Pour Complete

Concrete pour is complete and partly cured. Note that the cable anchor cages had concrete forms added during the pour.

 

(January 13, 2015)

 

 

 

Steel Stack

Steel Stack

Stack of ASTM A36 (36-ksi strength) steel pre-cut members to create the cradle.

 

Also note the threaded rods which will form the "cables" from the anchors.

Cradle Cross Beams

Cradle Cross Beams

One of the four cradle cross beams in place above the north-end piers

Construction Drawing

Construction Drawing

Construction drawing for the cradle. The end views show the bridge cross section cradled between columns on each side.

 

Four cross beams at the base of the bridge will carry the bridge.

Drawing Close-up

Drawing Close-up

This close-up of the south end of the bridge shows the locations of the two cross beams at this end (one at the south column, and the other where a rod comes down from from the top of the south column to attach to the cross beam).

 

The beams are called out as W 12x53 beams, which means a nominally 12-inch H section of ASTM A36 steel (nominal 36-ksi yield strength) weighing 53 lbs/ft.

 

The rods are 150-ksi-strength 1.25-inch diameter threaded rods assembled by means of threaded "turnbuckle" connectors. 

 

This will become more clear in photographs to come.

Mirror Image

Mirror Image

Mirror image construction at the north end of the bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temporary Support

Temporary Support

Cross beam and its temporary support from the south piers

South Cross Beam Close-up

South Cross Beam Close-up

Close-up of the south cross beam and its connection plate to be bolted to the southwest column

Two of Columns

Two of Columns

Two of the four columns ready for pre-assembly into a column pair

Photo Credits: Herb Lindberg