HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06232009 - C.02RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. ADOPT RESOLUTION 2009 /267 finding and declaring that an emergency exists and
AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to proceed in the most expeditious
manner with the Marsh Drive Bridge Repair Project, Concord area.
2. FIND, based on the evidence set forth below, pursuant to Public Contract Code Section
22035 and 22050, that an emergency exists, that the emergency will not permit a delay
resulting from our normal procedures for solicitation of bids and contract award, and the
action described in this order is necessary to respond to the emergency.
3. DELEGATE to the Public Works Director, or designee, the authority to proceed in the
most expeditious manner to repair Marsh Drive Bridge in the Concord area.
4. DIRECT the Public Works Director, or designee, to make periodic reports to the Board of
Supervisors, as required by Public Contract Code 22050, to enable the Board of Supervisors
to review the emergency action and to determine whether there is a need to continue the
emergency action.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 06/23/2009 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Laurie Sucgang
(313-2395)
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: June 23, 2009
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy
cc: Marlon Epps, Mike Hollinsworth, Laurie Sucgang
C. 2
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:June 23, 2009
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Declare an emergency for the repair of Marsh Drive Bridge. (Concord area, Project No. 0662-6U4111)
5. WAIVE the County’s Outreach Program requirements
RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)
for contracts, equipment, services, and supplies procured for the above project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost of the project is unknown at this time, but is not expected to exceed
$200,000. The project will be funded by Local Road Funds (100%).
BACKGROUND:
The Marsh Drive Bridge over the Walnut Creek Channel in the Concord area was
originally constructed in 1938 as a six span reinforced concrete slab bridge. In 1965, the
bridge was lengthened to the west by adding four spans. The County owns the western
half of the bridge and bents 3 and 4 are located within the County's jurisdiction. The City
of Concord, as the lead agency, is currently pursuing a seismic retrofit project, consisting
of new outrigger columns at all bents to handle the entire bridge loading capacity, but the
construction is not expected until 2010 at the earliest.
The Caltrans Division of Structure Maintenance and Investigations conducts inspections
of Marsh Drive Bridge biennially. The January 13, 2009 inspection report stated that the
columns at bents 3 and 4 are experiencing deterioration due to expansive rebar corrosion,
and further stated that although these columns “are adequate to sustain traffic loads. . . the
columns have little or no capacity to resist lateral loads from earthquakes or large
hydraulic events [severe storms, floods, debris flowing down the creek].” The Caltrans
Bridge Inspector Report indicated that the County was notified by Caltrans that “the
columns at bents 3 and 4 be repaired as soon as possible and be monitored after large
hydraulic events until repairs are made.” A six month strategic timeline to complete
repairs was recommended by Caltrans. If expeditious repairs are not made prior to the
next rainy season which commences October 1, 2009, the continued deterioration of the
columns coupled with heavy rains and debris flowing down the creek will undermine
support for the bridge and could result in complete closure of the bridge. Also because of
State Department of Fish and Game restrictions, no work can be done within the creek
between October 1, 2009 and April 15, 2010.
The repair work requires encasing the existing columns of bents 3 and 4 in reinforced
concrete. If the Public Works Department were to follow its normal design and bidding
process for construction projects, the resulting delays would potentially compromise
public safety and result in more extensive damage and increased repair costs. It has been
estimated by Public Works that following the normal design and bidding process would
result in completion of repairs to the bridge occurring no earlier than the summer of
2010, roughly three times longer than the Caltrans recommended timeline for repairs.
Based upon the January 2009 Caltrans report indicating the severe state of deterioration
of the columns supporting the bridge, Public Works staff has treated this situation as an
emergency and taken a number of actions to fix the bridge columns as soon as possible.
Since January 2009, Public Works staff has met with a Caltrans inspector in the field to
discuss the bridge condition and also met with City of Concord staff to discuss the
seismic retrofit project. Public Works staff has contacted Quincy Engineering, Inc., a
structural engineering consultant to seek repair recommendations. Since March 2009, the
Public Works Maintenance Crew has regularly been inspecting the bridge for debris and
any irregularities that may cause further damage or endanger the public’s safety. In April
2009, Public Works staff received the scope of work proposal from the structural
engineering consultant and started the negotiation process. Public Works staff also started
the environmental clearance process. Preliminary notices were mailed out to nearby
utilities informing them of this repair project. In May 2009, Public Works staff gave the
structural engineering consultant the Notice to Proceed with the design of the repair work
and the structural engineering consultant started the design work. On May 29, 2009, the
County Department of Conservation and Development approved the project as being in
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In June 2009, Public
Works received the 35% plans from the consultant. Public Works staff is currently
reviewing this submittal.
Going forward, Public Works has scheduled the following tasks and timelines in order to
complete the repair prior to the next rainy season commencing October 1, 2009:
June and July 2009: The structural engineering consultant will submit the 65%, 95%, and
100% plans for Public Works staff to review. Public Works staff will be applying for
permits from the environmental regulatory agencies.
August 2009: Public Works will complete the bid package and advertise this project
under the informal bid process. The anticipated construction contract cost is expected to
be less than $100,000.
September 2009: Contractor will start and complete the bridge repair work.
To address the above situation, Public Works staff recommends that the Board declare
the repair of columns on bents 3 and 4 of the Marsh Drive Bridge an emergency pursuant
to Public Contract Code Sections 22035 and 22050, making the necessary findings set
forth above.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
There will be grave danger to the bridge and the public’s safety in allowing the columns
to remain unrepaired into the next rainy season. The columns are in a continuing state of
deterioration. The next rainy season, lasting from October 1, 2009 – April 15, 2010, will
subject the bridge to a high risk of large lateral loads in the form of rain water and debris
flowing down the creek and impacting the bridge columns. The bridge columns have
little to no chance to support the bridge during such an event. There is a strong
probability that doing nothing would increase repair costs and result in the loss or
impairment of use of the bridge and public safety.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the above recommendation is not adopted, repair of the columns of the Marsh Drive
Bridge will not occur until summer 2010 at the earliest, prolonging this structure's
exposure to severe damage. Further deterioration of this structure could require closure of
the bridge adversely affecting traffic circulation in the area.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution No. 2009/267