The proposed ordinance would amend Section 66.04, Load Limits on Bridges, to allow for the establishment of weight restrictions on the NE 54th Street Bridge over the East Tributary to Fourmile Creek, between NE Hillcrest Drive and NE Briarwood Drive. The proposed weight restrictions and corresponding load postings were recommended by the City's bridge inspection structural engineering consultant following the annual inspection and reporting for this bridge in the fall of 2016.
The existing bridge was constructed in 1959, and it currently has sufficiency rating of 39 out of 100. Replacing this bridge is included in the 2017 - 2021 Capital Improvements Program with preliminary design and permitting scheduled for 2017, final design in 2018, and construction anticipated in 2019. The Iowa DOT recently added this bridge to its City Bridge Candidate List , which will make it eligible to potentially receive federal funding for replacement.
The weight restrictions and corresponding load postings are proposed in order to prohibit heavy loads from being hauled across the bridge by contractors and suppliers and to help extend the service life of the bridge until it can be replaced. Prior to replacement, the bridge will continue to be monitored by the City's bridge inspection structural engineering consultant to determine if the weight restrictions should be adjusted. |