Robin Wood (above Fiddlers Bridge and below Eagle Crag)
Another fine, warm, sunny day on which to make progress with the construction of a footbridge. A team of four, Ken, Catherine, Kasher and Frank H were the building team but many thanks must go to Mick, Ginny and Neil M who did an early shift of carrying tools and timber to the work site before moving on to other tasks.
The sequence of work:
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| 1. Temporarily align two stringers |
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| 2. Insert a central stringer to eliminate problem of bounce on a 4.5 m span. |
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| 3. Start fixing cross-treads. Side posts will be bolted at intervals to the right-hand stringer. |
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| 4. Align, drill, nail, space . . . . . . repeat |
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| 5. Two side-posts in place. End kickboard fitted . . . and the tread sections continue! |
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| 6. Why look so worried, Frank? The horizontal sections are horizontal and the vertical sections are vertical - just as it should be! |
End of the session:
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*Cross-treads to add.
*One more side-post with diagonal brace to fit.
*Hand rails on right-hand side to screw into position.
*A trim at deck level to fit to left-hand side
*Some cross-treads (where post have been fitted) to cut so they match the others.
*Some minor packing to give extra support under the stringers.
*Tidying up of the stockfence near the ends of the bridge
All the above should be do-able in one session, but for safety reasons access to the bridge has been temporarily taped-off (there is a 'dry conditions only' non right-of-way alternative). See next week's blog for the finished product.
Such bridges are not cheap! Timber prices have increased significantly this year as have CROWS' overheads. For example a single stringer (4.8 m x 210 mm x 75 mm) costs more than £40.00.
Funding for this footbridge (on footpath Todmorden 085) is coming from Calderdale Council and from individual donations. Many thanks.
