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Standard Drawings/Design Aids | Additional Trail Bridge Resources
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Types
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Timber
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Types

Deck Girder

Deck girder bridges are supported by two or more longitudinal girders (beams). Decks are supported on the tops of the girders and are usually timber (log, sawn or glulam), but may be concrete or steel.

Current standard trail bridge designs are available on the USDA Forest Service Standard Trail Plans and Specifications web page (scroll down to section 960-Trail Bridges).

Timber

Log

Typical span 10 to 50 feet

Additional Pictures:

Example sketch of a log deck girder
Photo of a Log Deck Girder Photo of a Log Deck Girder
ROS Classes: black from U to R to RN to SPM to SPNM, gray from SPNM to P

Sawn

Typical span 10 to 30 feet

Additional Pictures:

Example sketch of a Sawn Timber Girder Deck
Photo of a Sawn Timber Girder Deck
ROS Classes: black from U to R to RN to SPM to SPNM, gray from SPNM to P

Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam)

Typical span 20 to 100 feet

Additional Pictures:

Example sketch of a glue lam timber deck
Photo of a Glue Lam Timber Deck Photo of a Glue Lam Timber Deck
ROS Classes: black from U to R to RN to SPM, gray from SPM to SPNM, white from SPNM to P

Steel

Steel Girder

Typical span 30 to 120 feet

Plank decks are usually nailed to timber nailers bolted to the top of the beams. Glulam decks are usually bolted to brackets that fit under the top flange of the steel beam.

Additional Pictures:

Standard Drawings/Design Aids:
Steel Stringer Trail Bridge

Example sketch a deck girder with steel beams
Photo of a Deck Girder with Steel Beams Photo of a Deck Girder with Steel Beams
ROS Classes: black from U to R to RN, gray from RN to SPM, white from SPM to SPNM to P