Stream Crossing Methods, Costs, and Closure Best Management Practices for Virginia Loggers

Differing Levels of Forestry Best Management Practices at Stream Crossing Structures Affect Sediment Delivery and Installation Costs

“…Removal of these items could reduce the material cost by $610 and likely reduce labor by several hours. The bridge material cost after removing gabion baskets is similar to costs reported by McKee et al [41] for panel bridges in the Virginia Piedmont ($3152). However, the reported $246 installation cost is approximately 14% of the $1678 bridge installation cost recorded.…”

“…A more likely reason for the differences in costs is because a majority of stream crossings reported by McKee et al [41] were for temporary skidder bridges that are simply placed across the stream with a skidder. Our costs are more similar to those reported for permanent roads using a constructed stringer bridge ($10,147) and a three-panel wooden bridge ($5557) reported by Visser et al [42].…”

“…However, the reported $246 installation cost is approximately 14% of the $1678 bridge installation cost recorded. This could be due to extra labor required for gabion basket installation as well as cost recording methods by logging contractors in the McKee et al [41] survey.…”

“…A 2009 survey found that 48% of loggers in the Piedmont region of Virginia had installed haul road stream crossings within the previous year [41]. Bridges (wooden and steel panel) were the dominant crossing type (32%), followed by culverts (20%) and fords (8%).…”

“…Bridges can be expensive, but portable bridges can be used for multiple crossings over time. Fords have the advantage of relatively low cost if the streambed can bear heavy loads and handle most flood events [41]. Disadvantages of fords include traffic limitations during high flows and in-stream sediment disturbance associated with traffic entering the stream channel.…”