Brazilian Wood Deck Adds ‘Wow Factor’ to Almost Completed Mission Hills Bridge

The "wow factor" is definitely a feature of this relatively small but charming bridge nearing completion in Mission Hills, Kansas. And that's just what the City and GBA designers had in mind. The bridge, which is located on Indian Lane over a tributary to Brush Creek, reflects the ambiance of the gracious homes, expansive manicured lawns, and mature trees that surround it.

And what, you ask, creates that "wow"? Jon Karst, a GBA bridge designer on the project, first points out the ipe deck. Ipe is an exotic hardwood most commonly harvested from the forests of Brazil. It is resilient and strong - a 3x3 ipe post is the structural equivalent of a 4x6 post of standard lumber - and resists weather wear, abrasion, and naturally occurring wood rot. It's also incredibly dense and hard. Because of this, it is naturally resistant to fire and mold damage. It's also beautiful, with a rich brown color that, with the proper staining, won't weather to gray over time.

GBA recommended and the City of Mission Hills selected York Bridge Concepts (YBC) http://www.ybc.com/, for the timber portion of the project. YBC is the nation's largest on-site Timber Vehicular Bridge builder and the industry leader in Timber Vehicular Bridge Construction. They not only supplied the materials for the bridge but built the timber portion as well.

John Belger Construction Company built the rest of this beautiful project, including the concrete work, stone facade, stream work, planters, approach roadways, etc.

Other pretty "wowie" features of this bridge? Glu-laminated structural timber beams and a sub-deck constructed of Southern Yellow Pine, an attractive stone facade, six ample stone planters, three located on either side of the bridge, subtle lighting embedded along the bridge rail, and a "brick" herringbone approach roadway.

Also fyi, ipe is a renewable resource that comes from managed forests. The industry is heavily regulated and there are also organizations that promote and sponsor the responsible use of ipe and other hardwoods, including the Forest Stewardship Council and the USGBC.