HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8383 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 5, 2002
SUBJECT: BRIDGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Bridges represent the largest and most critical investment the City has in its roadway infrastructure. There
are over 939 bridges within the city, with 320 of those structures in the"major" category with roadway
spans of 20 feet or greater. In order to systematically maintain and extend the lives of these valuable
structures, City staff has been developing and implementing a comprehensive and continuing bridge
maintenance program. This comprehensive program includes two facets as noted below.
I. BRIDGE INSPECTION, INVENTORY, DESIGN
• TxDOT Inspection Program—As required by Federal law, TxDOT biannually inspects all major
structures with spans of 20' or greater. The results of these inspections are given to the City along
with general recommendations.
• Bridge Inventory—Staff recently completed a detailed inventory of minor bridge structures in the
city and the data is being compiled to use in developing a long term, continuing maintenance program
for all structures.
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• City Bridge Consultant—The City retains an annual contract with qualified local consultants to
develop repair plans for bridge deficiencies identified by TxDOT or by City staff inspections.
H. BRIDGE REPAIR
• Federal Bridge Rehabilitation Program (Large Scale) —Staff works closely with TxDOT officials
in obtaining funds for major repairs or replacement of significantly deteriorated bridges. An example
of bridge rehabilitation under this program is the replacement of the deck and the painting of the
Lancaster Avenue Bridge which was completed in 1999 at a cost of$4.5 million. Currently, the
.North University/West Fork of Trinity River Southbound Bridge is scheduled for total replacement of
the bridge this summer under this program. TxDOT also provides design and construction
management services for these projects. The City normally pays 10%to 20% of project costs under
this program.
• Contract Repair and Painting(Medium Scale) —As a result of the TxDOT bridge inspection
program, the City has contracted major repair and painting projects at 34 major bridge locations over
the last three years, at a cost of$1.5 million. The scope of work for these repairs varies with the
needs at each location, but includes structural repair and treatment of concrete bridge decks, repair
and painting of steel members, cleaning the channel of obstructions in the vicinity of the bridge,
repair of slope pavements and embankments, and the addition of handicap ramps and other modern
design features. Examples include the structural repair and/or painting of bridges on Western Center
Boulevard, West Seventh, South Main and North Main.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS » 8383
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 5, 2002
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: BRIDGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
East First Street Bridge--East First Street Bridge will ultimately require replacement to a larger
bridge structure due to high traffic volumes and the size of the river. The cost for replacement of this
structure is estimated to be$6 million and will necessitate acquiring Federal funds. Staff will
recommend that this project be submitted in a region-wide special call for Federal and state funded
projects within the next month. In September 2001, staff let a contract for$267,800 for the repair of
East First Street Bridge as a temporary measure until funding for replacement of the structure can be
acquired. The repair work will start in March 2002 and continue for 60 working days.
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In House Repair and Painting(Small Scale)—TPW Street Services has begun a program to repair
minor structures and paint railings where applicable on a cyclical basis. Data from the recently
completed structure inventory will be used to further develop this plan. Sixteen (16) structures have
already been repaired and painted under this program.
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Gary J ekson
City Manager
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS