New Bridges

[Phil Lilley]

Robbed these off FB, Sunburst's page.  Ozark's Aerial took the pics.  James and Blair Bridges.

[fishinwrench]

Hammond not Blair, right ?

[Riverwhy]

Yes.  That is Hammond

[Phil Lilley]

Sorry I don't know my bridges.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Very impressive how quickly they got those up.  I floated under the Hammond bridge just 2 weeks before it was taken out by the flood.  Still in awe how that big of structure could be taken out.  I wonder how much stronger, or what improvements they made to these bridges --- just in case that uh 1,000 year flood, uh, happens again like . . . next year.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I agree, that has to be some kind of record for a construction project of that size.  Even when you buy a pre made slip form bridge you still have a lot of work ahead of you to get it complete.

Anybody know the contractor that did the work??

[2sheds]

Thanks for the photos, Phil.  Great to see semblance of normal access returning for those of us who love this riverway.

Here's the deal about bridges.

Most of the designed structure (and cost) is intended to to protect the forces pushing DOWNWARD.  Smart to let gravity help the design.

iIt is incredibly more expensive to add features that would prevent damage by substantial LATERAL forces (say something almost unheard of, as if a bunch of huge trees were yanked loose, floated up to the top of the river, and then became battering rams at at height of 40-50 feet while trying to knock the bridge off its sideways anchors).  Never would have thunk it - significant taxpayer cost impact.

Dang it, turned out that's exactly what happened !  500-year event, according to current data+statistics.  IMHO,  this is the right design for Hammond & James.  Also tells us why Patrick was "passed-over" by the  "angel of death to bridges".

I'm much more concerned about what our campground hosts and outfitters need to restore their livelihoods.  We need to keep our eyes focused in that direction.