Concrete Artisan Builds Fairy Tale Concrete Bridge with Embedded Precious Stones

Flying Turtle Cast Concrete, Modesto, Calif., built this 10,000-pound all-concrete bridge at a homeowner’s estate in Woodbridge, Calif. Looks like something out of a fairy tale, doesn’t it?

The work started with a wood mock-up of the bridge placed over the pit where the pool would go to make sure everything would fit.

The work started with a wood mock-up of the bridge placed over the pit where the pool would go to make sure everything would fit.

Lifting the concrete arches with a forklift.

The pieces were cast in the show and then trucked to the final location.

The two 18-foot arches were cast in-shop and craned in. The steps were precast as well. Flying Turtle does not pour in place.

Note the decorative flourishes in three places on each arch. Those colored bits are art glass and inlaid precious stones, such as tiger eyes, pink quartz, turquoise and jade.

Integrated glass aggregate was added as special details to the pieces of the bridge.

The concrete arches were craned into position because they were to heavy to move any other way.

A closer look at some of the details in the entrance of the bridge.

The bridge was designed by Flying Turtle artisan-in-chief Mat Rogers, who was brought in by the general contractor of the landscaping project. Flying Turtle even selected and purchased the precious stones.

The images tell the rest of the story. Enjoy.