Hillsboro Municipal Trail Bridges
With a limited small town budget and several municipal trails in need of bridges, the City of Hillsboro wanted a long-lasting solution that would deliver a pleasing look without ongoing maintenance costs.
Challenge
A flourishing community south of Springfield, the City of Hillsboro features a Municipal Park loved by its residents. It’s an active park filled with hikers, joggers and bikers. Three bridges were needed to connect the trails over the park’s gorgeous winding streams.
The city’s employees had never tackled a bridge project before, but they understood their needs. They needed a solution that would work within their budget, not add maintenance costs in subsequent years, and, above all, would serve the residents while enhancing the beauty of the park.
Solution
After researching different bridge types and getting quotes, ReadySeries pedestrian bridges were selected. The FRP materials provided the maintenance-free durability and pleasing aesthetics that were desired for the park, and Bedford’s complete array of services from engineering through delivery provided the confidence that the city needed for a new project.
The undertaking consisted of two 35′ x 8′ truss bridges and one 25′ x 8′ beam bridge. Because FRP materials are lightweight, it was easy to transport everything to the installation sites. Each bridge was assembled on the ground and then lifted into place.
The reaction from the community was overwhelmingly positive as the bridges performed their utilitarian duties while blending seamlessly into the setting. The experience was also pleasing for the city, and they are looking into adding more ReadySeries bridges to other community sites.
