Fit the rails to the posts, as shown in the diagram. Align the edges with attention, drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws to lock them into place tightly. Make sure the arched garden bridge is sturdy and then make sure you smooth all the edges thoroughly. Last but not least, you need to take care of the finishing touches.

Arched garden bridge plans. Plans include step-by-step illustrated drawings, shopping list, cutting list, and free PDF download (link at bottom of blog post). Cut two 10′ 2×12’s (A) as shown on illustration above. Cut four 2×4’s to 3′ 5″ long. Pre-drill holes and assemble as shown above. Screw 3 1/2″ deck screws through (A) and into (B).

The curves are simple, the look is divine, and you can build it! Whether you have a small backyard stream to cross, or just want an attractive garden accent, here’s a perfect solution — an arched bridge. The curves and angles may look intimidating, but if you’d take on a deck project, you can build this, too.

Using a power saw, cut the laminated arch boards in half. Rip (cut) along the length of both the beam and the handrail (see picture). This will give you two laminated arch beams and two laminated arch handrail frames. Trim the ends of the arch beams to the dimensions shown in the plan.