On December 11, 2009 the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2009-037 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2009-038 Plan and TIP Amendment Title: Rehabilitate the Willow Street Lift Bridge in Cleveland Sponsor: City of Cleveland PID No.: 86257 Estimated Total Cost: $5,500,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: ARRA History/Background: On March 16, 2009, the City of Cleveland passed Ordinance No. 319-09, authorizing the Director of Public Service “to apply to NOACA to pursue federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic assistance, on behalf of the City of Cleveland, for “ … The Rehabilitation of Willow Street Lift Bridge over Cuyahoga River, in the approximate amount of $2,500,000.” Current Conditions: Willow Street is functionally classified as an urban collector. The sponsor reports that the Willow Street Lift Bridge serves as a major route from Whiskey Island. Also, over 46 percent of the traffic on the structure is trucks and trucks with semi-trailers. It is the only way that Cargill Salt Company, Ontario Stone and The Sand Company can get their products out to a major highway. The entire region depends on the salt aggregate products from Whiskey Island and the bridge is a vital link to the business and manufacturing companies in the Flats area of Cleveland. The sponsor reports that the average daily traffic is 1,800 vehicles per day with 46 percent trucks (2009). The speed limit is 25 miles per hour. It is a two-lane facility with a pavement width of 26 feet. The lanes are 13 feet wide. The sidewalks are 5 feet wide at the approaches and 3 feet, 7 inches wide on the bridge. The Willow Street Bridge was built in 1965, and is 40 feet wide and 350 feet long. A major rehabilitation was completed on the Willow Street Bridge in 1985. The inspection report prepared by Transystems, the City’s consultant, indicates that the bearing bars of the steel grid deck and lift span stringers are in serious condition and need to be replaced. The electrical system has reached the end of its useful life and is in serious condition and needs to be replaced while the mechanical system is in fair condition, but the reliability of operation has been compromised and repairs are needed. Proposed Project: The proposed project involves the rehabilitation of the bridge deck, sidewalk, electrical and mechanical components on the Willow Street Bridge, over the Cuyahoga River, in Cleveland (location map). Preliminary engineering plans have been developed by TranSystems and were submitted to ODOT on June 5, 2009. The proposed project is listed in NOACA’s Tier 1 list of projects for funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The original amount of ARRA (i.e., Stimulus-NOACA Allocation) funds programmed for the project was $2,500,000. The most recent estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $5,750,000. The estimated cost of preliminary engineering (PE) is $250,000. The PE will be paid by the sponsor. The estimated cost of construction is $5,500,000, which includes $500,000 for construction management. In a letter dated July 29, 2009, the sponsor requested an additional $3,000,000 for the project’s construction phase based on a hands-on inspection report. The report indicated significant deterioration to the lift truss floor beams, lift truss brakes and electrical control interlocks. At the sponsor’s request, the Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee recommended the amount of ARRA funds for the project’s construction phase be increased from $2,500,000 to $5,500,000. Therefore, anything over $5,500,000 is the responsibility of the project sponsor. Staff Comment (Summary): Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project is consistent with NOACA’s Connections 2030 Goals #3 (Preserve and Improve the Efficiency of the Transportation System), and #7 (Reinvestment in the Urban Core) and ODOT’s Access Ohio 2004 - 2030 Goals #1 (Transportation Safety) and #4 (System Preservation). Recommend committee and public review in order to obtain comments. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: According to the Bridge Inspection Report dated 5/6/09 this bridge has a General Appraisal rating of 3, serious condition. A definition serious condition is “loss of section, deterioration, or spalling has seriously affected primary structural components. Local failures or cracks in concrete may be present.” This bridge is very important to the movement of freight and building materials and the economy in Northeast Ohio. This bridge to Whiskey Island is part of the approved National Highway System Intermodal connectors (Port of Cleveland – West Basin and old river channel, Facility ID OH44P) According to NOACA’s Intermodal Connector Analysis on the National Highway System Technical Memorandum almost 5 million tons of material was shipped to/from Whiskey Island in 2007. In 2008 the Cuyahoga County Engineer conducted a traffic count on Elm Street just to the south of this bridge, 955 vehicles were counted of which 574 or 60% were trucks. This bridge will accommodate intermediate and experienced cyclists as proposed. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): If you are a representative of a governmental entity and would like to comment on this project, please email us. Public Involvement: NOACA encourages comments from the public on this proposed transportation improvement project. Please notify us if you would like to be added to our e-mail notification list for future updates. Committee Review: Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): Studies should be done on what type of future bridge would best provide access to Wendy Park for bicyclists and pedestrians. Asset Management Council: This project is consistent with Asset Management Council goals.