Union Village Bridge Rehab Revisited

(WGN VT-09-05)

August-September, 2002 - N. David Charkes of Fairlee, Vermont visited the work site while Alpine Construction of Stillwater, New York was rehabilitating the 135-year old wooden bridge. David brought his camera and his questions on August 29 and 30, and again on September 6. The following are his photos and his captions.

General view from the west
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

New timbers, stacked
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Bridge from SW side
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Attaching sling to timber (3 boards thick)
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Moving timber into place
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Timber in place¹
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Aligning timber by pounding
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

One week later³
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Roadway from the west
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

New boards. Note destination sticker
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Crew preparing winch
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Slinging timber
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Pounding trunnels to secure timber
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Moving next timber into place
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

View of a vertical bolt through joist²
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Camber information provided by Jim Ligon
Photo by N. David Charkes
August 2002

Footnotes:

1. Note separation between long timbers over length of bridge and floor joists - timbers will later be pulled up to meet joists to create 13.5" camber over horizontal at center. (Prior to repair, center had fallen 10.5" below horizontal.)
2. Bolts will be tightened over length of bridge to create camber
3. View from the SW. Note that the long timbers have been drawn up to the roadway joists to create a camber of 13.5" in midspan.