AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye BRIDGE

Im an ex British Royal Engineers officer and it looks very much like some bridges designed by MEXE in Christchurch Dorset where the origonal Bailey bridge was designed, they made a range of bridges and many versions have been used for civilian purposes especially in Commonwealth countries. I had a troop of'Sapper' here in the late 60's

Does your response mean that the military version of this bridge was meant to carry a safe working load approaching 70T? That is a rough estimate of the weight of a tank. If not what where these military versions designed to carry? Of course the next question would be how much was the civilian version down graded?

My foopa! I was looking at the approach to the bridge which is cobblestoned about a third way up on both sides

Huh? The bridge is not cobblestoned at all; it's a metal bridge. The road south of the bridge is flat-paved, and the road north is gravel. Are we talking about the same bridge?

Hi Ragman Youve got to remember a tracked vehicle exerts less pressure per square ft than say a loaded 6 wheel truck. The civilian versions were not necessarily down graded, but built to remain in place, most military versions were designed to be buily quickly under fire and removed once troops had advanced and wrecked civilian bridges rebuilt. As lond as theres no corrosion and all pressure points are intact then the bridge should be fine. Someone somewhere will have a spec for this bridge, Min of Works etc

Ahahaa lonesome!! Your "foopa" was much more fun. Gave everyone something to talk about and grumble about. :^)

Yes, of course you're correct. My concern on the bridge has never been the taxis and auto's after I took a look at the structure. It is the trucks I've seen go over with a load of building materials like cement block. I wonder if the Fire Dept. vehicles have ever been over it? They must be some of the heaviest vehicles on the Island.

Most people see the walk and road surface and think the bridge is ready to come down but it really looked pretty good underneath and the surface has nothing to do with its strength. I do wish they would resurface it though, only not in the middle of tourist season. The only thing I think about on the resurfacing is as it stand now plenty of air circulates around the structure and I hope it is done is a way not to trap moisture where corrosion could start with no way of getting access.

Let's hope they have this all figured out because that bridge has become very important for the economy of the North End of this Island.

Sorry, I uploaded a photo of the "partially" cobblestoned bridge under the "Photograph" forum....take a look.

Well by golly, you're right! As many times as I've ridden over that bridge on my bike, you'd think I'd have remembered. It's only the flat part on top that's metal (and plywood patches!) D'oh!

I stand corrected, and my apologies, Loansum!