A suspension bridge spanning Rattlesnake Creek on the outskirts of Missoula, Mont.s Rattlesnake Wilderness features small-diameter waste wood and waste plastic in what designers say is the first-ever application of these materials in a bridge. We are trying to take these unique construction materials to another level, says Dave Atkins, a U.S. Forest Service economic action program coordinator.
The 90-ft-long, 8-ft-wide bridge is part of a $10-million Forest Service program that aims to let people see the value of using this waste wood material, says retired Forest Service products specialist Dean Graham, who devised the concept in 2000.