Springfield bridge replacement would cost estimated $1.1 million

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- The Cass Avenue Bridge Community Task Force learned Thursday that replacing the 90-year-old bridge with a modern, concrete and steel structure starting in 2004 would cost an estimated $1.1 million.

Federal and state funds would pay for most of the bridge replacement. Up to 12 percent of the replacement cost would be funded locally, Joseph D. Litman, PE, of LHB Engineers & Architects of Duluth, told the Task Force.

Several Task Force members said the community wanted to keep the existing Cass Ave. bridge and asked if it was feasible to rebuild it?

Litman said rebuilding the existing bridge was not economically feasible.

"The old bridge is fracture critical," Litman said. "If something hit it and the pins break, it all goes down. It's in very tough shape."

Litman said the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation tested the bridge three years ago and concluded that it would soon need replacement. He admitted the bridge is quite rare.

"It's one of only two of its kind among 200 in the state," Litman said. "Right now, it's not an historic structure and too narrow to rehabilitate. It could cost more to rebuild it than to replace it. It is also full of lead paint, which would cost $15 per square foot to remove. It would cost $200,000 to $300,000 just to repaint it."

Litman said a new bridge would be much more functional than rebuilding the old bridge.

Springfield City Manager Mac Tilberg said that since much of the existing bridge traffic is on foot and a new walking trail was proposed along the Cottonwood River, it would be desirable to have sidewalks on both sides of a new bridge.

Litman said the existing plans do not include sidewalks on both sides of the bridge. Adding them was a possibility if state and federal authorities were convinced two sidewalks were needed.

The new bridge would have a 10-ton capacity, the same as an Interstate Highway bridge, Litman said. The county highway that crosses the bridge is a 5-ton road. The existing bridge has a 3-ton capacity.

The State of Minnesota advocated creating a bridge design with concrete form liners. Some Task Force members viewed that design as less desirable.

A Task Force member told Litman that since there was a brick plant in Springfield, many people in town wanted bricks as part of the bridge.

Litman said brick would be feasible near the abutments of the bridge but not on parts of it that would be in contact with road salt.

It might be an uphill battle with the State, but Litman said he was willing to provide input regarding adding brick elements to the bridge design.

Another popular bridge request was adding overlooks at the ends of the structure.

It may be possible to add surfaces to the bridge that are indigenous to the area like brick or veneer, Litman said.

A limited amount of ornamental lighting was another possibility. Lighting options included soldier, lantern, Upper Piedmont and teardrop lights.

"It's important to focus the light down, which can be done by putting hoods over the lights, to prevent light pollution," Litman said.

A brick sidewalk near the bridge was also mentioned as desirable by the Task Force.

Community Task Force meetings and an historical review will continue into April or May of 2002. A project memorandum will be submitted in June. State Dept. of Transportation comments on the memo should be received by August.

By September 2002, the project memorandum should be approved and a preliminary bridge plan will be submitted. It would be approved by October, according to the LHB project schedule.

A Final Review Bridge Plan will be submitted in February 2003. Final MnDOT comments would be received by March 2003. Final tracings would be submitted to the MnDOT Bridge Office by April 2003.

Bid letting would take place in July 2003. The contract would be awarded in September 2003. Site construction would begin in May 2004.