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How to Design a Private Concrete and Wood Bridge

Project Name

Wolf Creek Ranch Bridge #78

Customer Name
Massnick & Co.

Design / Specifying Engineer
Coffman Engineers

Block Manufacturer
Wilbert Precast, Inc.

Wall Installer
Versatile Industries of Ione, WA

Project Location
Metaline, WA

Year Built
2008

THE CHALLENGE:

This creative project integrated Redi-Rock wall products and a recycled railroad car to create a unique and attractive bridge at a development in northern Washington.

The owner of the property wanted to connect two of the man-made lakes but retain the current roadway, making a bridge necessary.

THE SOLUTION:
A local contractor recommended that the developer consider Redi-Rock to construct the fin walls and add an aesthetic appeal to the precast bridge abutments. The developer was impressed with the aesthetics and the engineering Redi-Rock offered.

Local Redi-Rock producer Wilbert Precast of Spokane, Wash. designed the project in collaboration with Coffman Engineers, also of Spokane. The owner wanted to use a 55 ft. long steel railroad "flat" car that weighed 13,000 lb. as the deck of the bridge. Designers specified 28,000 lb. precast concrete abutments that were 1 ft. thick, 9 ft. tall and 9 ft. across. The precast abutments were covered with a Redi-Rock cobblestone veneer to match the Redi-Rock fin walls that flank the bridge. The ~$35,000 project includes 120 Redi-Rock 41 in. gravity series blocks.

A 1950s era boat was sunk in one of the lakes to provide fish habitat and an area of interest for swimmer’s to explore. In photos, the mast can be seen jutting out of the water.

The site encompasses 80 acres and required one and a half miles of road to access the building site. The developer quarried all of the necessary stone to build the roads on site, then used the quarries to build four lakes. A pad with utilities for a primary home were installed , along with space for facilities for family, friends and staff. The 70-acre parcel is on the market for $5 million.

Case Studies