Agenda Date: 11/06/2018
Subject:
Title
A resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the city and the Colorado Department of Transportation for reimbursement of costs associated with the replacement, design, and construction of the bridge at Rio Grande Street over Slaughterhouse Gulch
Body
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Presented By: |
Keith Reester, Public Works Director |
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION:
Does city council support entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for reimbursement of costs associated with the replacement, design, and construction of the Rio Grande Street Bridge over Slaughterhouse Gulch?
BACKGROUND:
The Rio Grande Street Bridge was constructed in 1930. Since that time, the bridge has undergone periodic maintenance and repairs. CDOT conducts biennial inspections on “off-system” bridges, which are non-CDOT owned with span lengths of over 20 feet. The city has 38 bridges that qualify for this inspection. Any structures less than 20 feet in length do not qualify for this program and must be inspected by the city. Bridges are rated on a sufficiency scale of 0 to 100. The 2015 sufficiency rating of this bridge was 49.7.
This bridge is considered “structurally deficient.” This does not mean it is at imminent risk of failure, but that it needs to be monitored for continued deterioration. Due to its structural rating, the Rio Grande Bridge is required to be posted for a vehicular weight restriction.
In addition to being structurally deficient, this bridge is also considered “functionally obsolete,” meaning it does not meet the current functional needs associated with the roadway. The bridge is immediately adjacent to the Littleton Police Department and Littleton Fire Rescue Station 11. Replacement of this bridge would aid in the continued safe egress and ingress of the city’s emergency responders. This bridge is only 20 feet wide, allowing for only one narrow lane in each direction. The adjacent Rio Grande Street on each side of the bridge is 28 feet wide. The proposed replacement bridge will have a deck width at least as wide as the adjacent roadway. The new bridge will allow for one through-lane in each direction.
A federally-funded grant program, administered by CDOT, helps municipalities fund rehabilitation and replacement of structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges. Due to this bridge’s sufficiency rating below 50, it is eligible for full replacement. The city applied for and received a grant for rehabilitation of the Rio Grande Street Bridge. Staff’s recommendation is now for full replacement.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
The Rio Grande Street Bridge has had a sufficiency rating of 49.7 since 2015.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The Rio Grande Street Bridge has exceeded its useful life. Both the structural and functional capacity of the bridge requires it be replaced. The CDOT grant program provides the city with the opportunity to undertake this project where city funds alone may otherwise have not been available.
If council approves this resolution, staff will proceed with hiring a consultant to prepare a final design. Construction of the project is anticipated for the winter of 2019/2020.
OPTIONS/ALTERNATIVES:
The Rio Grande Street Bridge has exceeded its useful life to a point where repairs are no longer feasible and full replacement is recommended. If replacement of the bridge is not undertaken, the structural condition will continue to deteriorate to a point where the bridge is no longer safe for vehicles to pass across and could need to be closed.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The cost estimate for rehabilitation of this bridge when the grant was applied for was $508,000. The grant provides for 80% federal funding ($406,400) and 20% local agency match ($101,600). Staff has further evaluated the bridge and now recommends full replacement. Estimates for the bridge replacement project are approximately $800,000. At budget sessions in September, council gave preliminary approval for $400,000 to fund the city’s portion of the project cost from the Capital Projects Fund.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the city council approve the resolution and authorize an IGA with CDOT for replacement of the Rio Grande Street Bridge.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve a resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the city and the Colorado Department of Transportation for replacement of the Rio Grande Street Bridge.