bridge restoration on the MSGT 9/10/11

[RoySwkr]

Initial reports are very few blowdowns on the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail but 2 bridges washed out by Irene - one S of Rte.123 in Stoddard and one over Bog Brook in Washington. A crew of 3 assembled Saturday to deal with the latter. The lower side of the bridge on one end had been anchored to a tree, and the flood had spun the bridge which was on its side in the brook parallel to the bank. The bridge was 16 feet long with timber stringers and 2x6 deck with railing and probably weighed several hundred pounds when dry. The only way I could imagine to deal with it was to take it apart and even then I was afraid the waterlogged stringers would be too heavy for 3 people to lift. Fortunately the others provided more brains, brawn, and equipment than I had and we were able to move it whole.

First a come-along was set up on the opposite bank and used to spin the far end which with some lifting and prying was set back up on the abutment. The near bank was close to vertical which would have made it hard to slide the bridge up it, so instead a sling was wrapped around the anchor tree high up and another come-along lifted that end vertically so it could be swung back into place. The bridge is now usable and the first backpackers walked across while we were putting the tools away, but another crew may try to raise it higher sometime.

Having seen how well this worked, I think the bridge on the Gale River Trail could have been replaced in a similar manner but using more crew and tools.

 

[erugs]

I love stories of people -- even just a few -- working together for positive results. Look what was accomplished through brain-storming and flexibility. Great!