How to Make a Wooden Bridge

Bridges come in all shapes and sizes and are used to cross bodies of water or undeveloped land that might be difficult to cross on foot, but bridges often serve another purpose. A wooden bridge, for instance, can add a quaint touch to your landscape.
You don't need to be an expert craftsman to make a wooden bridge. With a little patience, a few tools and maybe a helping hand from a friendly neighbor, you can make a wooden bridge for your home that will give your landscape a wonderful face-lift.

Things You'll Need

• Four concrete blocks or tree stumps
• Two wooden beams
• Wooden planks
• Wooden posts
• Rope
• Shovel
• Hoe
• Hammer
• Nails

Instructions

Design Your Bridge

1. Determine the length and width of your planned bridge. You will need to purchase several types of wood for this job, so the measurements you take will determine the amount of wood you purchase. The type of wood you purchase is up to you, but pine is affordable and is a good wood choice for this project.

2. Purchase two pine beams the length of your bridge, enough flat planks to cover the length and width of your bridge, and four wooden posts to use as railing.

3. Use a shovel and hoe to level the ground where you will place the four anchor piers for the bridge. You can use concrete blocks if you like, but four sanded tree stumps the size of concrete blocks make for a more natural-looking bridge.

4. Place the four piers on the leveled surface, two on either side of the area your bridge will cross. Space the piers the width of your bridge.

5. Lay your support beams on the piers and nail them in with concrete nails (or heavy nails for wood). Once the beams are in place, lay the planks down crosswise and nail them in, securing the planks with at least three nails per side.

6. Nail your corner posts to the beams, then wrap your rope around one end and stretch it to the opposite post. Use a couple of nails to secure the rope to ensure it stays on the corner posts, creating a simple railing.
   You can replace the rope railing by placing three or four wooden posts along each side of your bridge, nailing them in place, and then adding one post the length of your bridge across the support posts. The size of the posts will vary depending upon the height you want your hand rails to be.

References

• Build an Arched Bridge
• Building Bridges