Bridge Debris Nets Are A Necessity During Renovation or Rehabilitation

Bridge debris nets provided by FallProof on infrastructure, bridges and other structures include turnkey design, engineering and installation services for debris containment and personnel protection. We also provide netting rentals and training. When needed, our design and engineering services include fabrication, as well as less inclusive options, such as providing nets only for your crew to install, or a trainer to work with your crew to ensure that the system is properly installed. The following are bridge and infrastructure owners we have served:

Special Care Is Required When Preserving Historic Bridges and Structures

Historical structures typically require special care, advance planning and sometimes custom engineering. FallProof has years of experience in the following scenarios:

Historic Bridges, Such As Covered Bridges and Old Railroad Trestles – These structures should be equipped with debris containment netting during renovation or rehabilitation work. On many of these structures, no penetration is permitted, such as for eye bolts or other mounting hardware. FallProof maintains a large inventory of brackets from previous jobs that can be reused on similar projects, and we fabricate new brackets where and when needed. For many of these projects, a cantilever netting system is used, with horizontal outrigger poles or brackets. The netting is stretched between the outrigger poles or brackets and also underneath the bridge. This system catches both debris that drops straight down, as well as anything that is wind-blown over the edge.

When A Bridge Is Over A River Or Stream – The netting prevents wood chips, paint chips, dislodged iron rivets and other objects from falling into the water and contaminating the environment. Generally, any railroad bridge over water that is being updated will require debris nets to be used if railroad ties are being replaced. This is to prevent creosote-soaked railroad ties from polluting the water below.

When A Bridge Is Over A Road Or Railroad Tracks With Low Clearance – The netting is stretched tight beneath it. This allows cars, trucks, trains and other vehicles to pass underneath without damaging the netting system. Given the age and condition of many bridges in this country, a chunk of concrete or other object may fall before there is any firm plan to repair or replace the structure. In these situations, netting is often installed as a “second skin” around the bridge to hold the entire structure in place for a few years while plans a and budget for a permanent solution can be prepared.

Debris Containment Extends To Personnel Safety

Where needed, personnel fall protection nets can be combined with a liner to offer both containment of falling objects and an OSHA-compliant fall protection system. Using this solution avoids the need for each worker at risk of falling to be tied off to a qualified anchorage. This leads to greater freedom of movement and increased productivity.

Netting Solutions That Meet Every Need

For any of the above needs, FallProof will provide a full turnkey package, including design, engineering, fabrication, installation and training. We also offer less inclusive options, including either providing nets only for your crew to install, or providing a trainer to work with your crew to ensure that the system is properly installed. Below are examples of a few projects we have completed.

FallProof provides debris and personnel netting systems for bridges throughout the United States, from major thoroughfares serving tens of thousands of motorists on a daily basis to historic structures. In some applications, such as the one pictured, our services included installation of a fall protection system for construction and demolition crews who wanted to safeguard workers during the rehabilitation.

In many cases on these rehabilitation projects, both fall protection AND debris are very real concerns, especially when it or its structural components might contain lead or arsenic, such as the covered bridge from the late 1800’s pictured here. We can install nets with fine mesh layers to prevent even the smallest of nails, screws, wood particles, etc., from entering a body of water and causing contamination.

Even on modern bridges or those that are maintained on a regular basis, components break down over time and need to be replaced. Pictured here, FallProof provided debris netting for this fire standpipe replacement project. The contractors needed to ensure that no debris would fall during the course of the pipe being replaced. Whatever the challenge, we can design, engineer and install a custom solution for you.

FallProof is no stranger to complex debris netting installations. Pictured here, we installed debris netting that was suspended from the top of the bridge using special brackets and outrigger poles to spread the nets outward to catch concrete or other falling debris before it could hit anyone or anything below. Our ability to meet challenges like this one is why we are called upon to complete similar projects across the country.

Jersey City, NJ - Pulaski Skyway, Hudson Viaduct Section - Schiavone Construction Co., the prime contractor on the rebuilding of this critical piece of infrastructure, looked to FallProof to design, fabricate and supply a debris netting system to protect traffic on the lower roadway during dismantling and removal of the upper roadway.

Working closely with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Schiavone, FallProof designed a system to facilitate installation and removal one traffic lane at a time. Due to the many different sizes, shapes and liners, each net delivered to the site was tagged with a specific location to reduce installation time.

Click to Call
or dial us at 1-(855) 279-2000

The following are clients we have provided these services for. Call us to learn more about our installation packages.

• City of Philadelphia (Henry Avenue / Wissahickon Memorial Bridge, Philadelphia, PA)
• New Jersey Department of Transportation (Pulaski Skyway)
• New Jersey Transit (Boonton Railroad Bridge, Boonton, NJ)
• New York City Department of Transportation (138th Street Bridge / Lift Bridge), Bronx, NY)
• Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (Vinita Interstate 44 Service Plaza Overpass)
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (George Washington Bridge, Ft. Lee, NJ)
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority / SEPTA (Miscellaneous Bridges)
• State of Connecticut (Comstock Covered Bridge, East Hampton, CT)