bridge pier

[Anonymous]

I have a 2 section bridge that will be installed to run over a pond that is 4 1/2 feet wide and looking for a bridge pier wood or plastic that can be placed in 3 feet of water.
Im looking for something that will not decay and can handle the cold winter and Ice in the pond.

[cacole]

I think that, under those conditions, I would make my own out of concrete, or at least have a concrete foundation that comes up to just below water level for a plastic pier to rest on. I wouldn't consider wood as suitable for this use.

One of the advertisers in Garden Railways magazine that might be worth checking out is Garden Metal Models, Incorporated, in Sykesville, Maryland. Their web site is at http://www.gardenmetalmodels.com

[kstrong]

I reviewed the Garden Metal Models plastic bridge piers for GR a few months ago, and they'll work quite nicely in your situation. They're only 2' long, so they won't reach to the bottom of the pond, but as Charles suggested, I'd build up the base within the pond with concrete bricks, and anchor the pier to that.

The piers are plastic, UV resistant, and surprisingly sturdy. They come with brass anchor plates that you can use to attach the pier to the concrete block base, and the top of the pier can be made to hold any manufacturers' bridges, not just GMM's.

Good luck, and as alway, post photos once it's done.

Later,

K

[rpc7271]

I have cast my own Bridge abutments and piers from a produce called Tuf-Stone made by US Gypsum. I got the idea from Columbia Junction http://www.columbiajunction.com. I pour a concrete footing and then epoxy the pier to the concrete footing with Epoxy made by Simpson Strong Tie purchased from Home Depot.