Agenda Item:

 

            11       

 
 


                            COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

                                      City Manager’s Office

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Agenda Date:               1/23/06                                                                        Communication No.: 06-037

Agenda Item Type:       Resolution                                                                    Roll Call No.:  

 

Submitted by:               Jeb E. Brewer, P.E., City Engineer

 

SUBJECT—

Approving Bridge Design Concept for the Southeast Connector over the Des Moines River.

 

SYNOPSIS—

Council is requested to approve a new Des Moines River bridge design concept which will span 700 feet across the Des Moines River from SW 2nd Street to SE 2nd St.

 

FISCAL IMPACT—

Funding for the standard bridge design is included in the professional services agreement Fund CP038, Organization ENG990000, Project STR214, Activity ID 01-2005-023, Southeast Connector SW 2nd to SE 6th Street.

 

RECOMMENDATION—

Approval.

 

BACKGROUND—

As part of the overall Southeast Connector project, a Project Advisory Committee was created to help guide the project.  The Project Advisory Committee includes members that represent the public, neighborhood, business, and government agencies in the project area.  Three general bridge designs have been presented to the Project Advisory Committee.  The designs include:  a standard bridge, a bridge with enhancements and a signature bridge.  The Project Advisory Committee generally preferred the bridge with enhancements.  Enhancements would be added to a standard bridge design and may include aesthetic treatments, rail designs, upgraded lighting, form liners, special finishes, etc.

 

There was some interest in pursing a signature bridge, but not the same as the George Washington Carver tied arch on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.  Options were discussed, but unique structures increase the cost of both design and construction.  The current project budget does not include funding for a signature bridge.  A signature bridge would require additional design effort and increased construction cost raising the project budget by several million dollars.

 

Either the standard bridge design or the bridge with enhancements could be constructed within the established project budget.  The enhanced elements would be tailored to available budget, as cost estimates are refined during the design process.  The current project budget from SW 2nd to SE 6th Street is $23.5 million.  The City’s Capital Improvement Program includes just over $5 million in City funds and $18 million in Federal funds.  The Federal funding has been secured through the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Federal Transportation Appropriations and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Authorization.  The
project from SE 6th to SE 14th/15th has an estimated need of over $16 million federal dollars that will be pursued through upcoming appropriations and authorizations.

 

Staff recommends proceeding with a basic bridge with enhancements that will be adjusted to be within the current project budget.