Rough Hey: footbridge over Colden Water
On a day when rain was forecast in various quantities, a team comprising Kasher, Jerry, Andy, Stella, Steve and Frank H set out to construct a footbridge across Colden Water on a path that links Eygpt Farm, Rough Hey (a ruin) and Lower Heath Farm.
The original (Council constructed) footbridge is decades old and showing signs of deep decay in its 300 mm width narrow walkway.
Funded by friends and family of Tim Mihailovic, Blackshaw Parish Council, Blackshaw Head Fell Race and other donations to CROWS (thanks to everyone), the plan was to build a wider footbridge, with a secure handrail, close to the original. Totally removing the latter was deemed unnecessary.
The detail
Despite the pessimistic forecast, the day (barring two brief showers) was fine, warm, virtually windless and provided ideal conditions for working . . . pity about the hordes of trained combat midges!
1. Here's the preliminary on-site work that was done earlier:
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| 1a. Old footbridge: deep decay in main timbers and a dilapidated handrail. |
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| 1b. Sounding out the stone-built banking and measuring up for the new footbridge. |
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| 1c. Cutting back the rampant growth which is flourishing exactly where we'll need to be! |
A large amount of in-depot measuring, sawing, pre-drilling and bagging-up also took place. This made the on-site work as straightforward as possible.
2. Here's how the early part of the day went:
CALVAG (on time as usual) delivered (to unload) some timber and tools for the Ripponden depot, and then loaded the large quantity of items - stringers, spacers, handrail posts, handrails, cross-treads, trims, bracing struts and bag after bag of hand tools, drills and fixings - required for the new footbridge.
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| 2a. CALVAG truck being loaded - a slightly fraught event because we are anxious to be off to Eygpt . . . and beyond! |
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| 2b. Just below Eygpt at Rough Hey. Timbers etc transferred to Mr Logg's tractor for the journey down to the work site. |
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| 2c. Across the fields it goes - sparing us from having to make an awkward, time-consuming, heavy carry. Phew! |
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| 2d. Very skillfully done. Over the wall with our equipment, exactly where it is needed. |
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| 3a. The synchronised bolting team! . . . |
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| 3b. . . . which means the handrail post are bolted tightly (very tightly) to the stringers. |
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| 3c. The downstream side of the footbridge will have rails fitted to these posts. |
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| 3d. The footbridge will have three stringers. They are internally linked by 'spacers' to create a strong, rigid structure. |
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| 3e. All three stringers aligned and more 'spacers' being nailed in place. |
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| 3f. All three stringers now levelled-up. Take it on trust - that spirit level bubble is 'dead-centre'. |
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| 3g. Jerry on quality control duty . . . |
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| 3h. . . . and this is what he sees - the cross-treads are advancing nearer . . . and . . . nearer . . . and |
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| 3i. . . . nearly there! |
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| 4a. Andy fitting under-rails and diagonal braces to enhance stability. |
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| 4b. Handrails being put in place on the downstream side of the footbridge. A vertical support pole (one of a pair) is just visible: - they eliminate any 'bounce' of the footbridge. |
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| 4c. Side-trims being fitted to the upstream side of the bridge. |
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| 4d. More trim work. Good technique, Stella - hammer held correctly and eyes on the 'target'. |
5. End of session.
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| 5a. Much discussion. The up-bank end of the footbridge needs some rails to block off the old bridge and to deter sheep from accessing the new bridge. More to be done here! |
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| 5b. Stress test? The new 6 m bridge is a really firm structure - not a squeak, a rock or a bounce! |
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| 5c. Downstream view with some CROWS who are very happy with the day's efforts! |
