A new FRP snowmobile trail bridge was recently installed within the Tioga State Forest in Pennsylvania. As part of Pennsylvania’s state forest system, this forest is certified under the Forest Stewardship Council™ and Sustainable Forestry Initiative© standards, making it one of the largest dual certified forests in North America. To maintain these certifications the state park system manages active timber harvests, deer enclosure fences, natural gas extraction, prescribed fires, vernal pool protection, buffering of streams, and conservation practices for plant species.

Designed by Areté Engineering for snowmobile and pedestrian access, the bridge structure measures 35' in length and 6' in width. Its loading capacity is designed to withstand 85-PSF of pedestrian live loads and 25-PSF for wind loads. For flooring, southern yellow pine was used. Structural members were Strongwell EXTREN® 500 series for all supports and railing. Aluminum angle mounting clips were used to attach abutments and galvanized hardware was used for connections.

Areté Structures supplied the bridge kit to installers and reported that the installers were impressed with both the streamlined delivery and installation process associated with their FRP bridge kit systems.

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