Bridge Work UPDATED DAY 5

DAY 5 Friday 3/31

We have reached a good stopping point in light of the fact that we will not finish before the Saturday storms and Monday outing.  Given that we will be closed for a few days starting April 17th for green aeration, we will plan to do the remaining bridge work at that time.  For now, enjoy the good half of the bridge and note how much better it is than the bad half.  This has been a beast and we have learned a lot.  This bridge will need some sort of stain or coating once the lumber has had a chance to dry up from the pressure treatment.  I do not anticipate that these boards will last 30 years like the ones we are removing.  If we do get 30 years, then I will probably be in assisted living when it happens.  With this project fresh in our minds we will start the bidding and planning process for the next bridge or bridges.  Hole 7 is our longest bridge at 180' so hopefully that means future bridges can be repaired more swiftly.  

DAY 4 Thursday 3/30

Day 3 and Day 4 results are showing better progress.  No real surprises, but some supplier issues with deliveries are not helping.  The deck and rails have been replaced on half of the bridge.  The hope of finishing this week is gone, but if we do not get rain there is a chance that it could be finished by Monday.  Provisions for getting the bridge open for play on Monday will be made if needed.  Long story short... contractor did not do a great job estimating.  It's a big bridge that was built to last.  It does not come apart easily and the boards are very big.  This was going to be a first for whoever we chose so it's been a learning experience for all of us.  

DAY 2 Tuesday 3/28

The first set of surprises showed up today.  A split joist beneath the deck and the 6" irrigation main line was pulling apart in one place.  About 50' of bridge deck was removed so I am not thrilled with the progress.  However, I'm told that the replacement boards will start going on tomorrow and the pace will pick up.  Hopefully we will not find anymore surprises along the way.  

The 6" mainline runs beneath the bridge.  
It needed some new support

Alan and Dave got the pipe straightened out
and put in a new brace

This joist split in what looks like a knot
in the board.  Tomorrow it will be replaced.

DAY 1 Monday 3/27

Today is a big day as we begin replacement of the deck and railings on the bridge at 7.  This is the longest of our 13 bridges all of which were installed almost 30 years ago.  The contractor told us it would take 3 days, but I am not going to hold my breath.  There are lots of potential "surprises" with this process and I expect it will take closer to 5 days.  We've done numerous small repairs over the years and they are never as simple as we expect them to be.  Hopefully the pace will pick up tomorrow.  

All play will begin on hole 10 and holes 6 and 7 will be closed for this project.

Railings were removed today