COLDEN: Guardrails
Today, Ken and Frank H went to Eygpt - not the far off sunny one but the nearby wet one! The task was to add guardrails to one end of a new footbridge on the footpath (Heptonstall 011) that crosses the gully, below Eygpt Farm, where Pinion Clough becomes Rough Hey Clough.
Today's work was funded by Calderdale Council Highways.
The Details.
Here's how the work proceeded:
1. Picture of the new footbridge when Ken & Frank carried out the initial survey. The footbridge is sturdy but the drop into the stream bed is precipitous.
2. The general plan was to construct a 'boxed' section to block off the exposed edge with a post and rail fence. Uprights would be clamped in metal 'shoes' which in turn would be bolted to the bridge platform. Here's a picture of two uprights just prior to clamping . . . .
. . . . and a short time later three uprights - modelled by Ken in thoughtful mode!
3. Although the day was reasonably warm, occasional showers (both light and heavy) made tools and materials slippery to handle. However, a few hours later the exposed edge had been 'boxed-in' with enough 'passing room' for users of the bridge . . . .
. . . . and a slightly more aerial view shows the bridge and guardrails unencumbered by Frank's presence.
There is a little more work to do. The end sections of rail (in foreground of picture) were to be trimmed-off close to the first upright but we judged it better to leave the full length of rail in place so an extra post (square-section or round) could be added at the end.
A very short work session should see this neat and safe structure completed.
