Conversations with Your Local Contractor – Bridge Driveways May Need Major Upgrades
                     Conversations with Your Local 
Contractor – Bridge Driveways May 
Need Major Upgrades
Bridge driveways are a type of driveway which connect from the street to 
the house on some type of elevated platform, usually on downslope 
properties. After the Oakland Hills fire most local jurisdictions required 
them to be reconstructed to hold the weight of firetrucks in an 
emergency. For older lightweight bridges this can be a major upgrade.
  
Why do they fail?
The primary cause of failure are waterproofing problems that lead to 
damage to the support framing. Older asphalt membranes that are 
cracked and poor flashing details at the garage or sidewalls are typically 
the culprits. Over time the support framing may actually fail, creating a 
hazardous situation.If water is not properly diverted at the entrance to the 
garage, it can often damage lower-level rooms below the garage.
  
What does the new structure 
look like?
The rebuild starts with new structural framing. Heavier timbers provide 
additional support required to meet current engineering. Thicker plywood, 
bituthene waterproofing, and a channel drain at the garage tied into the 
current drainage system are added. New rebar at 4”-6” spacing is needed.
  
The Final Product
After concrete is poured the stucco walls are repaired. In this project we 
needed to put a new colored stucco texture on the sidewalls as a paint 
color would never match correctly. The new driveway should now stand the 
test of time.Conversations with Your Local Contractor is a new feature by 
Jim Gardner of Jim Gardner Construction Inc. (with articles finessed by Lisa 
Gardner).
  
Contact US
Jim Gardner Construction
Website - https://jimgardnerconstruction.com
Address - Oakland, California , United States
Phone No - (510) 655-3409