We are excited to announce that the installation of the floating bridge — the first of its kind in Virginia — has been installed at Ragged Mountain Reservoir in time for spring hikers! The floating bridge installation was completed this week by a company from South Carolina who specializes in docks and floating bridges. It’s important to note that though folks can “walk on water” and try out the bridge, the west side is roped off as the City Parks and Recreation department is still finishing their bio-blitz/environmental study of the flora and fauna in that area. They want to make sure that the park trails are built with the least impact. The trail will complete a six-mile loop around the reservoir. We understand this should be completed by August.
This feature of the Ragged Mountain Natural Area was part of a collaborative effort that began several years ago by a partnership among the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department, the Ivy Creek Foundation, and the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.
The bridge measures 220 feet across and five foot wide and made of wooden planks of Ipe (pronounced ee-pay), a Brazilian hardwood, selected for its maintenance-free properties. The wooden planks are held in place by an aluminum frame anchored to six concrete blocks placed at the floor of the reservoir during construction of the dam. The bridge floats by the buoyancy of the construction materials, in this case foam-filled floats. The bridge is designed to accommodate for drops in water levels up to 10 feet.
Lonnie Wood, Interim Executive Director explained in a press release that we were able to accomplish two things with this floating bridge: provide a pedestrian bridge for the trail and at the same time allow for the flexibility necessary for fluctuations in water levels that are inherent to a reservoir.
Hiking Crew
Floating Bridge from the shore
