Garden Footbridge Plan

Span the gap between ho-hum and spectacular landscaping with this eye-catching cedar footbridge! Ideal for a dry-stream setting just use rounded pebbles.

• Finished size measures 42-1/2" Wide x 120" Long x 45" High.

Plan includes exploded views, lumber shopping list, bill of materials, cutting diagrams, color photographs and detailed instructions. Design features arched construction for appearance and strength. Uses copper spindles (made from common 3/4” plumbing pipe). 14 pages.

Customer Reviews and Photos for: Garden Footbridge Plan Average Rating: (5.0) (3 customer reviews) Add your review...

1) Submitted by Matt, from Mont Clare, PA on 3/24/2009 Customer Rating: Although it was a time consuming project it was well worth it. I extended the length to bridge 12' over our pond and it looks great. The arches are very sturdy and the overall design should last a long time.

2) Submitted by Jack Pledger, from Owen Sound, Ontario, CANADA on 8/30/2008 Customer Rating: I think everyone will be very satisfied with this aesthetically pleasing bridge. The plan is detailed, precise and well illustrated. Although the bridge I produced looks the same as the plan illustration, I didn’t quite follow all of the procedures because of cost consideration and my limited tools. The following worked for me, not to suggest this is in anyway superior to what is in the plan: I steam bent the curved members and used 3/8” carriage bolts and glue to sandwich the curved planks together forming the main bridge supports. I was able to work with two bar clamps instead of the numerous clamps used in the plan, where the curves are produced by pressure clamping to shape and holding with deck screws and glue. I used Eastern White Cedar, an economical wood here in Ontario. The wood came directly from the mill, planed only one side, saving a few dollars. Only a few pieces (the upright posts) need planed on all sides. For the balusters I used powder painted aluminium tubes sold in kits for use on deck railings. This was about a third of the cost of copper pipe. For the post caps I made wooden ones. The plastic or metal ones commercially available seemed clunky and detracted from the bridges elegant lines. Lastly, I also used 3/8”carriage bolts to attach the upright posts to the curved runners, instead of ½”, so only one long drill bit had to be purchased. In all, a worthwhile project that will reward you for your effort (lots of it).

3) Submitted by Jim Smith, from Niagara Falls, NY on 3/26/2007 I built this bridge last summer. It was quite a project. I used red ceder throughout (expensive, but well worth it). Due to the high cost of copper pipe, I substituted the preformed aluminium balusters in a colonial style. Looks very nice. You need to follow the directions closely to prepare the jig for bending the boards and for cutting the bent supports correctly. With all the bending and gluing/screwing required it took a good two weeks to complete the project. It looks great in the yard, and others find it amazing.