|
|
-----Original
Message----- Philip Thanks , I would appreciate your feedback on the effectiveness of the treatment. Regards
HRATCH TADEVOSIAN
From:
Philip Johnston [mailto:scribepj@tpg.com.au] Hratch Thank you for your prompt response. Mindful of my final para in my below e-mail (extracted immediately hereunder), weather permitting, I will visit the bridge this Sunday to have a look at the effect in reducing the dangers and take some pictures. “Because there are 23,000 timber bridges across Australia, of which 88% are controlled by local councils, and several of them have similarly dangerous gaps, I am particularly interested in any cost-effective method to reduce the risk, which is why I suggested hammering in rubber or timber wedges or shims or mastic expansion joints or applying a tar based asphalt solution into the gaps that sets hard.” If BHSC has been able to readily insert some bituminous fill that will materially reduce the chance of a cyclist catching a wheel for say 5 years, then other councils and RTA should be able to do likewise at similar bridges. Of course, there needs to be a platform below the gaps (which is the case on this bridge) for the bitumen to fall and sit and not merely drop through and out the bottom of the gaps. Cheers
Phil Johnston aka Bank Teller
-----Original
Message----- Philip Thanks for the information. I have arranged for the gaps be filled with some bituminous material as early as today. Regards
HRATCH TADEVOSIAN
From:
Philip Johnston [mailto:scribepj@tpg.com.au] To: Hratch at Baulkham Hills Shire Council I refer to my ‘phone call to you earlier this morning. Attached above are 7 photos of a timber bridge located 5km West of Wisemans Ferry on River Rd which leads another 7km further west to Cliftonville. The bridge is robust. However, alas it has several large longitudinal gaps between planks. I am aware of 4 painful bicycle falls on that bridge due to the cyclists wheels getting caught between gaps. The latest was on Sunday 20 April when a male member of Bike North BUG suffered a painful fall. Previously, myself, Martin Borg and Richard Kelly have all got our wheels caught in the very wide gaps apparent in the above photos and consequently “hit the deck” hard. Fortunately, none of the above accidents necessitated ambulance or hospital visits. However, as a seasoned cyclists who maintains the below two cycling websites, I am aware of deaths and paraplegia due to cyclists wheels getting caught in similar gaps on other timber bridges:
www.muggaccinos.com In 1988 I met a cyclist in Murong Spinal Rehabilitation Centre, Ryde, who spent 6 months in there after his wheel got caught on a similar bridge. I seek Baulkham Hills Shire Council to materially reduce the danger to cyclists of this bridge by at least hammering in hard rubber or timber wedges or shims as a cost-effective treatment, as the existing planks are in good condition. Due to two short unsealed sections further West twds Cliftonville, River Rd does not carry large trucks whose weight could dislodge wedges and shims. Other treatments could be to insert mastic expansion joints or a tar based asphalt solution in the gaps that sets hard. I am more than happy for BHSC to lay an additional surface over the existing solid structure, or a full coat of asphalt. However, I am conscious that a cost-effective treatment to eliminate the existing danger is desirable. I look forward to your response. Because there are 23,000 timber bridges across Australia, of which 88% are controlled by local councils, and several of them have similarly dangerous gaps, I am particularly interested in any cost-effective method to reduce the risk, which is why I suggested hammering in rubber or timber wedges or shims or mastic expansion joints or applying a tar based asphalt solution into the gaps that sets hard.
Cheers |
|
|
|