Trail bridges not only provide convenient access to the national forests for hikers or packstock, but also can protect fragile riparian ecosystems. But. trail bridges can be difficult—in some cases, dangerous—to build. This report includes the results of controlled tests and case studies of field installations of fiber-reinforced polymer bridges. Fiber-reinforced polymer trail bridges are lighter and easier to assemble than traditional bridges built from wood or steel. At some remote sites, the advantages of light weight and ease of assembly may make fiber-reinforced polymer trail bridges a better alternative than wood or steel bridges. Wood for bridges made from native materials may be in short supply at some remote sites. Care must be taken in transporting fiber-reinforced polymer materials, though. Fiber-reinforced polymer materials are easy to damage when they are being transported to the bridge site and when they are being assembled.
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A Guide to Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Trail Bridges http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf06232824/pdf06232824dpi72.pdf
