Page 55 - Discover Summer 2022
P. 55
Bridge Clearance Can Be Tricky
The arrival of new neighbors has us river to about 12 feet, 10 inches under
frequently being asked; "Will my new the second span out on the Bedford
boat fit under the bridge?' Hoping this side. The middle span is about 13',
question is in forethought, be it the 4 inches of clearance. If you are
Hales Ford or the Hardy bridge on the concerned about clearance do not cross
Roanoke River channel, our answer under the first or fifth spans as they
starts with "maybe". have shallow water on the shore sides
and those nasty haunches
Our lake level is in
on the pier sides.
constant fluctuation and
the bridge structures The Hardy bridge
are not uniform across clearance is about 14
their spans so clearance feet mid-span. We have
distances vary by boat to say "about" because
position under a span design and actual
and change with water distances may vary due
level. Clearance height is to actual construction
derived from the distance conditions and
between mid-span of a environmental conditions
bridge span (five total at Hales Ford) over time.
and a 795 foot Full Pond (Mean Sea
So we didn't quite nail down the first
Level) water level.
of three things that let us know if we
Clearance on the Hales Ford bridge "fit". The other two are even more
drops by as much as five feet on both dynamic variables; water level and your
sides of each span once under the vessel's height. Mother Nature and
parabolic haunches (curved areas at American Electric Power push and
EAR
CL
CLEAR Department of Transportation design determine and control the other.
the ends of each span). From Virginia
pull over one; boat operators have to
drawings, the center clearance distance
at Full Pond for Hales Ford ranges Water level is reported hourly
through www.aep.com under the
from about 14 feet under the second
"Hydro Plant Levels and Flows"
span out on the Franklin side of the
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