OTTUMWA —
Not only will the Market Street Bridge get a new deck in the next couple of years, it could receive some aesthetic enhancements as well.
The Ottumwa City Council will discuss design and funding options for the Market Street Bridge deck replacement project at its work session on Monday.
“We’ve been trying to get it funded for five to six years, but that’s not the way the grant program works,” said Public Works Director Larry Seals. “We started derating the structure at least that long ago.”
Currently, the bridge can support up to 13 tons.
“But that’s where you start getting into problems because the loaded firetrucks are heavier than that,” he said.
The deck has deteriorated to the point that the engineering department derated it to 13 tons, whereas a normal bridge would be rated at 40 tons.
The original project cost estimate was $3 million, though it will have to be adjusted now for inflation.
“We’re looking at widening the existing 5-foot walk to an 8-foot walk to interconnect with the trail system,” Seals said.
Several downtown groups also requested the city look for a way to place lookout points at some of the piers, Seals said.
“It depends on what the council wants to do,” Seals said.
Five years ago the city cleaned off the old asphalt and resurfaced the bridge.
“We knew we were planning on replacing the deck, but we didn’t want to do any extensive deck rehab,” he said.
Seals said his department intends on completing the design phase this year and letting the project in November or December.
“Then hopefully we’ll get a contractor on board and we’ll start construction in January or February [2014],” Seals said. “That way we can do the demo work while it’s cold.”
This would put a tentative end date in November 2014.
The cost of the project is $3 million, but Seals said that could jump to $3.5 million depending on what aesthetic options the council chooses.
The city received a $1 million grant from the Highway Bridge Program, as well as $1.5 million in STP funds through Area 15. The city will contribute approximately $575,000 in local funds.
The City Council will also be able to check three sewer separation projects off their list Monday. The projects include Hamilton Street, Tindell Street and East Maple Street, as well as the reconstruction of Marilyn Road.
The Hamilton Street Sewer Separation Project, which is slated to begin this spring, would be completed in the 1000 block of Hamilton Street up to Finley Avenue.
Council members will vote to approve the nearly $157,000 contract with DeLong Construction Inc., of Washington. The project will be paid for through $160,000 raised from the Local Option Sales Tax.
Due to the Ottumwa Housing Authority’s new four-plex on Tindell Street, the city needs to relocate the sanitary sewer line in the area. Engineers estimate the project to cost more than $70,000, with OHA funding $20,000 of the project, $15,000 coming from the sewer fund balance and the rest coming from LOST.
The council will also vote to approve the full-depth, full-width PCC replacement of East Maple Street from North Jefferson to North Court streets. New sanitary and storm sewer infrastructure will also be installed to separate the sewers.
Construction is expected to start this spring and will cost approximately $653,600. The project will be funded through a $324,000 CDBG grant, $350,000 from LOST and $83,000 from Ottumwa Water Works and Hydro.
Another street is also up for full-depth and full-width PCC replacement: Marilyn Road.
The project would start from the end of the first phase (which began at Bryan Road and proceeded 520 feet north) up to West Rochester.
The sidewalk will be extended to West Rochester Street and construction is expected to begin this spring. Half of the construction will go up to the school parking lot to keep access open at all times. Once this half is complete, the other half will begin.
The project is expected to cost $472,410 and will be funded through fiscal year 2013 CIP funds.
Also on the council’s agenda:
• Meet in closed session following the work session to discuss union negotiations.
• Discuss the Pride in Ottumwa awards.
• Brad Little, president and CEO of Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation, will update the council on ORLF’s future activities and plans.
The council will meet at 5 p.m. Monday in council chambers at City Hall. The meeting will air live on GO-TV, cable channel 6.
Ottumwa
Time to revamp the Market Street Bridge
Four sewer, street projects up for approval
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