Greenbrier Suspension Bridge, 1994 Monongahela National Forest, WV

Satellite View of Project Location View Larger Map

USE:  Pedestrian

SPAN:  150'

TRAVEL WIDTH :  3'

TOWERS:  26' tall, Copper Napth, #1 Douglas Fir glu-lam.

ANCHORS:  34 cy concrete deadmen w/ twin 1 3/8" anchor rods each mainline.

MAINLINES:  1 1/2", A-586, 1x55 Bridge Strand.

The Greenbrier Suspension Bridge--also known as the Hosterman Trail Swing Bridge--is located in sleepy Hosterman, near Cheat Mtn., Durbin, and the historic railroad town of Cass, West Virginia. The bridge is located at the trailhead and affords access to thousands of acres of National Forest and game preserve land. It is hard to imagine a more perfect spot to spend an afternoon in the West Virginia hills.

Sahale built the Greenbrier bridge for the U.S. Forest Service using an Agency supplied design based on National Park style suspension bridges.  It is a floor beam and stringer style pedestrian suspension bridge with concrete deadmen anchors. The floor beams are galvanized channel supported by suspender rods and the stringers are glu-laminated timbers.  Numerous design changes were made by Sahale prior to construction, including revisions to the deadmen anchors, anchor hardware, bridge geometry, and substitution of glu-laminated beams in the towers.

Access to the site was excellent, although the far side of the river was accessible to construction equipment only during periods of extreme low water.  Greenbrier Bridge was constructed in about 8 weeks during later summer and fall of 1994.  The photos on this page are centerline views showing the floor beams and suspenders prior to installation of the deck, and the bridge near completion.