MUIR WOODS, CALIF. — Over the past month, the Muir Woods trail crew has completed essential repairs on three of the four bridges over Redwood Creek, ensuring their continued safety for visitors. Built in the 1990s, these bridges had weathered years of exposure to the damp forest environment, and the crew stepped in to reinforce the aging structures.
The crew’s work included strengthening the beams by “sistering” ledgers to the stringers and adding new deck boards across the span. In simpler terms, they reinforced the worn-out beams with stronger materials and replaced the old planks with fresh redwood boards. Notably, the fresh planks still carry their distinctive pink hue due to tannic acid, a natural preservative that enhances the wood’s durability without the need for chemicals.
While redwood is an ideal material for longevity, it is costly, so the crew used it selectively in the repairs. The maintenance also included measures to protect the watershed, with tarps placed under the bridges to catch sawdust.