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Home My WebLink AboutDTS-09-074 - Bridge Condition Assessment ProgramJ KITC~~R De~elopment& Technical5ervrces REPORT T0: Members of the Development and Technical Services Committee, Councillor C. Weylie -Chairperson DATE OF MEETING: May 11, 2009 SUBMITTED BY: K. Grant Murphy, Director, Engineering Services (741-2410) PREPARED BY: Rachelle Wheatley, Asset Management Technician (741-3400, X3144) Greg McTaggart, Manager, Infrastructure Asset Planning (741-2634) WARD(S) INVOLVED: ALL DATE OF REPORT: April 24, 2009 REPORT NO.: DTS-09-074 SUBJECT: BRIDGE CONDITION ASSESSMENT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: That Council receives the 2008 Kitchener bridge condition assessment report and, further direct staff to carry out future bridge assessments and any required Capital Works bridge remediation works as part of Council's consideration during upcoming Capital budget review. This is to ensure that the City adheres to the provincial regulation that governs bridge safety standards under the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act (O.Reg. 104/97), and upholds the City's ongoing commitment to the provision of reliable and safe public infrastructure. BACKGROUND: As mandated by provincial legislation, all bridges that are under the ownership and responsibility of the City Of Kitchener are inspected every two years. The technical definition of abridge for the purposes of the legislation is any span greater than 3 metres in length and includes culverts. The intent of this report is to provide an overview of the program that develops the City's bridge inventory, condition assessments, and review the engineer's recommendations for necessary works that may be required to keep the city's bridge inventory in a safe operating condition. REPORT: In 2004 an initial city-wide inventory of all bridges under City responsibility was conducted in support of the first provincially mandated inspection program of that year. In Ontario, bridges are regulated under Standards for Bridges (O. Reg. 104/97 as amended) of the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act. As interpreted under the Act, any structure with a span of 3.Om or greater is considered a bridge. Techniques involved in identifying and locating these structures included the use of GIS tools, historic records, site visits, and anecdotal 9-1 information. The bridge inventory has been refined to include all bridges under City ownership, such as structures intended for both vehicular andlor pedestrian use, regardless of span length. The current count of all bridge-like structures is 108 of which 85 structures meeting the criteria as defined by 0. Reg. 104197. Standards for Bridges (O. Reg. 104/97 as amended) requires that these 85 structures are inspected for physical condition by qualified personnel every two years. These inspections examine all aspects of these structures including fence or barrier condition and structural condition of bridge joints and decks. In accordance with the legislation, the inspection program consists of a visual inspection of each structure element under the direction of a Professional Engineer. The condition of each bridge element and any noted performance deficiencies are recorded on standard forms developed by the provincial Ministry Of Transportation. In the autumn of 2008, the third cycle of bi-annual bridge assessments was completed. As in previous cycles, this work was contracted out to a qualified engineering consulting firm (Aecom Consultants). Following these field inspections, recommendations for any maintenance or remediation works to any bridge structures are developed based on those observations. These recommendations include the nature of the recommended work, timing and estimated cost. A summary report is submitted to the City which describes the bridge condition and any remediation recommendations. Adatabase system was also developed to maintain digital records of this work, and will support further bridge condition analysis, decision support, planning for maintenance and remediation works, and PSAB asset valuation requirements. As a result of the bridge condition assessment program, several ongoing initiatives were developed in response to recommendations based on findings of the condition assessment. The recommendations may include more detailed follow-up investigations, routine maintenance or repair work, or major structural repairs. These recommended works are executed through larger individual repair projects, an ongoing bi-annual rehabilitation program, and as minor maintenance works. In the case of recommended major works to a single structure, such works will be carried out as an individual large project focusing on that single bridge, using the services of an experienced bridge contractor. Typical repairs that may be completed on the structures include (but are not limited to) concrete/steel removal and replacement of the deck and support structure, expansion jointlseal replacement, bearing replacement, fencing/guardrail replacement and deck water- proofing replacement. Table 1 describes major bridge repair projects that have been completed between 2003 and 2008 as a result of the inspection program recommendations. Table 2 refers to five (5) bridge structures where significant works will be required in the coming years and will be treated as separate projects for the purposes of capital budgeting. Remediation works of a somewhat lesser degree or scope are handled as work to a grouping of bridges under a single rehabilitation program. This program typically focuses on remediation works to between 8-10 bridges in each contract. Although often of the same general nature of the larger projects, rehabilitation works are generally of a lesser scope and complexity than the work of a larger individual bridge project. Work would typically include (but is not limited to) concrete deck, pier, and parapet repair, joint repair, deck sealing, railing repair, and fencelguiderail repair. Generally, the rehabilitation program fills the gap between the major individual bridge projects, and regular maintenance work such as minor painting and cleaning. The results of the 2008 inspections and assessments will drive the selection of rehabilitation 9-2 works for the 2009 Bridge Rehabilitation Program, and Table 3 refers to ten (10) bridge structures planned as the focus in the 2009 bridge rehabilitation program. Table 1 -Completed Major Structural Repairs to City Bridges STRUCTURE YEAR COST Margaret Ave Bridge over CP Railway 2003 $1,000,000 Wilson Ave Bridge over CN Railway 2005 $1,000,000 Lawrence Ave Culvert over the Henry Sturm Greenway 2005 $90,000 Pioneer Drive Bridge over Schneider Creek 2006 $70,000 Pedestrian Bridge over Hwy 7l8 (Phase 1) 2007 $50,000 Stonybrook Culvert over the Voisin Greenway 2007 $250,000* Pedestrian Bridge over Hwy 7l8 (Phase 2) 2008 $500,000 * project was funded in part by COMRIF grant Table 2 -Proposed Major Structural Repairs to City Bridges STRUCTURE PROJECTED YEAR ESTIMATED COST Overland Drive Bridge over Schneider Creek 2010 $388,000 Hayward Avenue Bridge, West of Courtland Avenue 2011 $322,000 Schneider Creek Bridge, East of Manitou Drive 2012 $380,000 Striling Avenue Bridge, North of Mill Street 2013 $400,000 Shirk Place Bridge, West of Lancaster Street 2014 $250,000 Table 3 - 2009 Bridge Rehabilitation Program STRUCTURE REMEDIAL ACTIONS Benton Street Pedestrian Bridge Bolt replacement, deck patching, remove and recast deck ends Country Hill Drive Culvert Repair fencing and gabion baskets Concrete repairs to sidewalk and Eckert Street Culvert culvert, sediment removal, railing repair, deck sealing Kehl Street Bridge Deck sealing, sidewalk & railing repair. Lawrence Avenue Bridge Concrete repair in shaft/pier Patricia Avenue Bride g Concrete repair to retaining walls, fence repair Concrete deck repairs, remove and Peter Street Pedestrian Bridge recast deck ends, ,compression seal joint, railing repair. Pioneer Drive Bride g Deck joint seal replacement, railing repair. River Road Pedestrian Bride g Replace bolts on threshold plates on both ends of truss. Stirlin Ave Culvert g Replace anchor bolt, concrete patching to soffit, debris/silt removal. 9-3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Larger individual projects identified for work are shown in table 2 previous. These works are typically funded through the City's Capital budget, with estimated costs shown. The first two projects are currently part of the 10-year Capital forecast, being identified for needed work prior to the 2008 inspections. The last three projects shown were identified through the 2008 inspections, and will be included in the 201010-year Capital budget request. The total estimated cost for all of these projects is $1,740,000.00, GST excluded. The bridge rehabilitation program is currently funded bi-annually, and has been incorporated into the City's 10-year Capital budget since 2004. The next budget allocation for this program is slated for 2010 at $389,000, and the bi-annual budget allocation for this program is currently planned to rise to $456,000 by 2018. Almost all of this funding (99%) is through the Federal gas tax. In 2008, the City also received $2,699,936 through the one-time Provincial Roads and Bridge Infrastructure Grant, of which $250,000 was directly allocated towards the bridge rehabilitation program -boosting the program's existing funding. As a result, this program will have $458,000 in total funding available for the programmed 2009 rehabilitation works, as shown in table 3 previous. As for the bridge inspection program itself, allowances continue to be made in the Capital budget for this work, with a 2009 allocation of $29,000 being made, and is planned to continue through the 10-year Capital budget to 2018 at $34,000 for that year. COMMUNICATIONS: Engineering Division staff has recently been in contact with the office of the Provincial Auditor General concerning the city's current practices and resource needs in regard to bridge stewardship. This is in support of the Auditor General's office developing a more comprehensive understanding of bridge management on a local and provincial level. At times, portions of the funding that has been used in the past and currently to support bridge remediation work includes Provincial grant monies. Any reporting requirements necessary for fulfillment of grant obligations are adhered to. CONCLUSION: An important element for the economic and social well being of the City is the continued provision of reliable and safe public infrastructure. The City's commitment to this in regard to its bridges is continued diligence in inspections, and in implementing all necessary works to keep these structures in a safe and functional operating condition. The City will also adhere to the provincial regulation that governs bridge safety (Ont. Regulation 104/97), and on an annual basis appropriately budget for the inspection and any required remediation to ensure compliance and public safety. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Interim General Manager Development and Technical Services Department 9-4