In late 2016 and early 2017, AECOM inspected the following City bridges that were identified as having structural concerns:
Taylor Road / Ward Branch Bridge – Replacement scheduled for FY 2020
Garfield Avenue Bridge / Illinois Central Railroad Yard
Garfield Avenue / 22nd Street Bridge
Country Club / Lake Decatur Bridge
Center Street / Stevens Creek Bridge
Center Street Bridge
Of the bridges inspected by AECOM, the Taylor Road Bridge and the Center Street Bridge were determined to have the highest priority for replacement. In 2019 the City completed an additional routine inspection that showed a significant deterioration of the deck beams that required the bridge to reduce to one lane to move traffic from the deteriorated beams. Under the National Bridge Inspection System (NBIS) guidelines required by the Federal Highway Administration, the Center St Bridge has a superstructure rating of “3” (Serious Condition) on a scale of 0-9 (0=Required Closure, 9=New).
The City has requested $1,280,000 in Federal Surface Transportation funding to cover 80% of the estimated $1,600,000 million construction cost to replace the Center Street Bridge in 2021.
Request for Proposals
On September 25, 2019, the Public Works Department issued a request for proposals and qualifications from area engineering firms to provide design services to replace the Taylor Road Bridge. Proposals were received on October 17, 2019. Nine firms submitted formal statements of qualifications. Public Works Department staff reviewed the proposals, interviewed the top three and recommends WHKS & Co., of Springfield, IL, as the firm best able to serve the City in performing the requested design services.
The Center Street Bridge design services are to prepare design drawings and IDOT and FHWA approvals to perform the bridge construction work in 2021. The Design Services Agreement will include the following services:
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Perform topographic surveys of the project sites. This work will also include gathering information on Steven’s Creek in particular.
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Prepare a hydraulic report for the Center Street Bridge to identify any effect the structure may have on Steven’s Creek or the bike path and determine if there are scour concerns with the structure footings.
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The City will be required to submit waivers to IDOT and Illinois DNR for approval due to the bridge not providing the required clearances within the floodplain. If a waiver is not provided the road profile will be required to be raised.
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Complete the design for the bridge and approach and prepare construction plans for bidding.
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Prepare the project specifications with the bidding information required by IDOT.
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Coordinate the construction plans and specifications with area schools and residents. This will include a public meeting to discuss the closure of Center Street Bridge during construction of the new bridge.
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Provide construction bidding assistance to the City as needed.
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Provide three special inspections of the existing structure beam’s conditions.
The proposed fee is $305,114.20, which will be paid from the State Motor Fuel Tax Fund.