Truss Bridge Ideas

Garden Pond

• Garden ponds often have small bridges spanning them -- sometimes decorative and sometimes functional. These often use a tight radius to accomplish the same transference of load. It's a functional design. It may reference Japanese images and images of Claude Monet paintings. It doesn't, however, provide a flat walking surface: it's quite steep. A similar effect and function can be achieved with a truss bridge design, providing a flat span to walk across.

Water Features

• Water features often flow from a fountain to a pond. The water is then recirculated with a pump. These artificial creeks tend to be small, and can be crossed by small spans that may not need any reinforcement. However, queen post trusses can be added to small spans to double as handrails. A queen post is like a triangle with the top flattened. The top cord is parallel to the span. The truss then becomes ornamentation and a functional handrail, rather than a structural bridge support.

Culvert Crossings

• Culvert crossings are among the more common reasons private property owners need to build small bridges. Many areas have open culverts on the side of the road. If your property is adjacent to one, you'll need to drive over the culvert, requiring a private bridge. They can be expensive. There are many approaches to these spans. A truss bridge should be among the designs considered for culvert crossing; their design can be more economical than using large timbers or steel I-beams.

Deck to Deck

• On sloped property with scenic view corridors or "peekaboo views," decks can become an elevated maze to capture the desirable views. For example, several small decks barely larger than picnic tables might be connected with long, narrow truss bridges. A key benefit of truss bridges of this scale is the dual function of the handrails. They give the bridge or walkway much of its strength and happen to be configured to function as handrails, too.