Last fall, after requests from Routt County, Colorado residents, Carbon County decided to replace the Battle Creek bridge, just below our house. The bridge is barely in Wyoming and almost everyone who lives above it is a Colorado resident. The Routt County Commissioners decided to kick in $150,000. The bridge was not rated for the weight of the trucks which cross it with gravel, cattle and other goods. As it turned out, it was so heavy that the contractors could hardly move it. We have had an exceptionally open winter which allowed work in December, January and February. I could watch the whole process from my kitchen window. We purchased the old bridge and moved it to a crossing farther up Battle Creek. This will allow us to get to our fields on the east side of the creek before the high water goes down.
setting the stage 12/15/11
Equipment on holiday 1/1/12
- men at work 1/11/12
after they cut the trees and moved the power line
lowering the deck on the new bridge 2/8/12
the old bridge is now in the Cow Pasture 2/16/12
bridge preparing to leave its long-time home 2/27/12 photo by Kent Bratberg
This is a job for professionals
Don't try this at home, boys and girls
Same creek, different banks