The Oregon Parks System recently sourced eight new FRP bridges, including one which was installed at LaTourell Falls. Measuring at 224 feet, the waterfall is well visited and photographed due to how sharply the water drops over an overhanging basalt cliff.

To improve trail accessibility and safety, the park system reached out to Areté Structures to design, fabricate, and supply a durable, maintenance-free bridge for this popular trail site.

Measuring 55' in length and 6' in width, Areté Structures designed and sourced EXTREN® 500 Series fiberglass reinforced structural shapes pultruded with a custom brown pigment. To ensure decades of slip resistance and rot resistance, SAFPLANK® interlocking decking was used for flooring material. For maximum corrosion resistance, structural connections were outfitted with galvanized hardware, while stainless-steel decking hardware was used for SAFPLANK® attachments.

As for design, this pedestrian rated bridge can withstand up to 90 PSF of live loads and wind loads of up to 120 MPH according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) per design specifications.

Due to the tight timelines of the overall project, this bridge kit was bundled in North Carolina and delivered onsite to Rooster Rock State Park via a single flatbed truck. A rotorcraft was then used to airlift and place the fabricated bridge structure at the base of the waterfall adjacent to its plunge pool.

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