HAWTHORNE BRIDGE INSTRUCTIONS - 16’-24’ LONG MODELS

COMPONENTS – Wood parts (see chart on page 2)

 Parts list
16' - 24’ LONG BRIDGES Length of Bridge
16’ 18’ 20’ 22’ 24’
# 2 SQUARE HEAD BIT * 1 1 1 1 1
5/16" X 4" LAG BOLTS W/ WASHERS * 8 8 8 8 8
3" SCREWS * VARIES BY SIZE - SEE BELOW
OUTSIDE BEAMS / TRUSS ASSEMBLY A 2 2 2 2 2
INTERIOR BEAM /TRUSS ASSEMBLY(S) A1 VARIES BY WIDTH – SEE BELOW
END BOARDS B 2 2 2 2 2
2X4 POSTS - Ends of Bridge C 4 4 4 4 4
2X4 POSTS - Top of Bridge D 4 4 4 4 4
RAILING UPRIGHTS (TOP) E 2 2 2 2 2
RAILING UPRIGHTS (SIDE) F 4 4 4 4 4
UPPER RAILINGS (TOP) G 2 2 2 2 2
UPPER RAILINGS (SIDE) H 4 4 4 4 4
Notched Floorboards (Marked A) I 2 2 2 2 2
Notched Floorboards (Marked B) J 2 2 2 2 2
Notched Floorboards (Marked C) K 2 2 2 2 2
FLOOR BOARDS - not notched L 34 39 44 49 52
CROSS TIES TRUSS SUPPORTS M 2 2 2 2 2

INTERIOR BEAMS 2 - 1/2" DECK SCREWS PER BRIDGE 3" SCREWS PER BRIDGE

WIDTH # WIDTH 16' 18' 20' 22' 24' WIDTH 16' 18' 20' 22' 24'

27" 0 27" 136 156 176 196 208 27" 92 96 96 96 96

36" (3') 1 36" (3') 204 234 264 294 312 36" (3') 100 106 106 106 106

48" (4') 1 48" (4') 204 234 264 294 312 48" (4') 100 106 106 106 106

60" (5') 2 60" (5') 272 312 352 392 416 60" (5') 108 116 116 116 116

72" (6') 3 72" (6') 340 390 440 490 520 72" (6') 116 126 126 126 126

NOTE: Image in instructions may not show quantity of components use chart for inventory.

Step 1 – Post and Beams Assembly

Lay out and identify all the wooden components for the Railings using the chart and drawings.

NOTE: You want to attach the railings to the beams on a level flat surface, with the beams
laying down. Do not attach posts while the beams are standing up.

If your bridge is 27” wide, you will not have an interior beam. Wider bridges have from 1 to 3
interior beams. The two outside beams can be identified because they have marking on them
to identify where the posts will be attached. Interior beams have no such markings. The two
outside beams are interchangeable (no left or right
side beam). All the interior beams are marked on one
end. Face the beams so the markings face the same
way as exterior beams.

All the 2x4 posts are not identical. (See the drawing at
right.) You will position so that the tops of the posts will follow the contour of the bridge.

Attaching the end posts (C) – Use the markings to

insure that the posts will be plumb. Using the
markings will also insure that the posts overhang
the ends of the beam by 1 ½”. Attach with 2
screws at this time. The bottom of the post will
be aligned with the bottom point of the beams.

DO NOT attach Lag Bolt at this time.

Attaching the middle posts (D) – Note that the

side of the posts will be a t a right angle with the
top part of the beam. Use the markings on the
beam to insure that the Posts are positioned.
(You can also use a quick square to insure the 90
degree angle.) Attach to beams with 4 screws,
and lag bolt using the predrilled holes in the post.

Finishing attaching all 8 posts (4 per beam).

Step 2 – Railing Assembly

Building the railings can be done either with the beams lying down or standing up, whichever is
easier for you. Layout the center railing components - top handrail (G) and the upright 2x4 (E)
support. Set the top hand rail on top of the posts, and position one side at the point where the
cut slopes off at the top of the post.
Attach to one post using one screw.
Be sure that the handrail is centered
on the post. Then take the upright
support and attach with one screw on
the same side as shown at the right.
Be sure that the upright is snug against
the posts and up tight against the
bottom of the top hand rail.

Then go to the other end of the hand rail and attach the hand rail and uprights to the other
post in the same way. The connection should be snug, but if not, pull the posts together. The
hand rail must meet at the point on the posts.

Nest, attach the hand rails for the side railings in the same way, attaching the handrail first on
the upper post. Then attach the upright to the top post, and then to the end posts. Finally
attach the with two screws through the hand rail into the top of the end posts. The hand rail
will extend beyond the end posts.

Once the railings are attached to the posts, finishing by attaching the top rails to the uprights
with screws. There will be a total of 15 screws used to attach the top handrail to the posts and
uprights as shown below. Repeart this for the other beam.

Completed Beam / Truss and

Railing Assembly.
Important: To complete the rest of the bridge assembly, it is usually best to move to the final
location. The bridge will be rather heavy once completed.

Step 3 - Frame Assembly

Stand the two side beams (with railings) with the railings facing the outside of the bridge. They
should be setting on a flat level surface, or on a footer or foundation. Take one end board (B)
and attach to the ends of one beam with 2 screws. The bottom of the end beam will align with
both the end point of the beam and the bottom of the post. Attach to the other beam. Repeat
this on both ends of the bridge.

NOTE: This example shows

a 5’ wide bridge, which has
two interior beam. 27” wide
bridges have no interior
beams. See chart for more
details.

The end cut of the beams

will extend above the end
boards. The bottom point of
the beams will align with the
bottom of the end boards.

NOTE: Do not attach the bridge to the footers at

this time. Attach only after most of the decking
boards are installed to insure that the bridge is
square.
If your bridge has an interior beam, align the beam using the predrilled holes in the end board
as a guide. There is no left or right side to the interior beams, so it does not matter which way
they face, unless there are more than one interior beam. With 2 or more interior beams, the
beams will need to be arranges so that the boards used to join the beams together face in the
same direction.
 After the two end boards are installed, attach the end
posts to the end boards with the lag bolt and two screws in
the predrilled holes.

Locate the Cross ties – Depending on the length of the

bridge these will be either 2x6’s or 2x8’s.

Install the Cross ties on either side of the board

that runs vertically from the truss to the beam.
The ends of the boards have predrilled holes.
The ends of the cross ties will be flush with the
upright truss board. If interior beams are used,
there are no predrilled holes, but you should
attach them to the interior trusses with 2
screws per connection.

Completed Bridge Frame with Railings

Step 4 – Bridge Decking Installation

Be careful when finishing assembly if the bridge will be positioned over an area that is
inaccessible from below. Instructions show installing the top part of the bridge decking first.
If it is safer to assemble the sides first reverse the next two steps and work from the
completed bridge decking to finish the top decking.

(Note: images below do not show truss assembly for clarity)

Top Decking – Locate the two

notched decking boards that are
marked “A”. Position them as shown
at right. Make sure that one side is
tight against the post, and attach
one side with two screws. Then go
to the other side and attach with
two screws. If the board is not tight
against the post, pull in (or push out)
on the post before attaching. Attach
the other A board in the same way.

If your bridge has interior beams, attach with 2 screws using the predrilled holes as a guide to
center the beam.

Next attach decking boards between

these two boards. The number of
boards will vary by the length of the
bridge. Be sure that the ends of the
boards are aligned with the first
boards (they will also be aligned
with the outside of the posts
(Overhanging the beams by about 1
1/2”. Position the boards without
attaching them and arrange so that the gap between the boards is equal (about 1/8”). Once
properly spaced, attach with 2 screws over each beam.

NOTE: If you are attaching the bridge to a footer or other

support, do so before completing the decking boards at the
ends of the bridge. Attachments are best made using metal L
brackets (Not included). Using 3” screws (not included) to
attach the L bracket to the outside beams as shown at right ,
and screws (wood foundation supports) or wedge bolts (or
other anchoring means to attach to concrete footers). Image
at left shows a generic L bracket.
Side Decking – Locate Notched boards marked B and C. Installation is similar to the steps for
the top deck boards. Boards marked B are
positioned against the top posts, and those
marked C attach to the end of the bridge (Slide the
board in from the inside of the bridge and be sure
it is tight against the posts.

Attach using 2 screws per beam, using the pre

drilled holes.

Position remaining decking boards (without

notches) by laying them out first, and spacing
them so the gap between each board is about the
same. Be sure also that they aligh with the other
boards (overhanging the beam by about 1 ½”.

Your new bridge is now complete.