By Beacon Staff
Looking
to shore up the barricades on either end of the closed Cascade Bridge,
the Burlington City Council voted 4-1 Monday night (March 7) to add 40
barrels full of sand to ensure the bridge’s protection.
City
council member Matt Rinker was the only “no” vote, as he deemed the barrels too expensive and ineffective. He also thought they would be an attractive nuisance for kids who want to take the lids of
the barrels and use them as sandboxes.
The
barrels will cost the city roughly $12,000, breaking down to about $300
per barrel – 20 on each end of the bridge. That includes the price of
staff, which is nominal, and the price of sand, which is a bit more
expensive.
Mayor Jon Billups said during the
council work session the previous Monday (Feb. 28) that the barriers
could save someone’s life. Cascade Bridge was closed to vehicle traffic
in 2008 and pedestrian traffic in 2019 due to safety concerns, but two
vehicles have crossed the bridge since the closure.
The
first incident occurred in February of 2020 when a motorist lost
control of their vehicle after their brakes failed. The second incident
occurred in December of last year when a high-speed chase crossed the
bridge. The vehicle was able to scrape through the barriers and cross to
the other side, and police did not follow it across the bridge. They
were able to apprehend the suspect later.
Assistant
city manager for public works, Nick MacGregor, said the proper signage
indicating that the bridge is closed is up. After Billups asked him to
look at ways to enhance the barricades, he suggested the barrels – the
same kind found on highways to reduce the impact of traffic accidents. MacGregor said he and Billups initially discussed installing Jersey barriers
(concrete slabs that measure 32 inches high with slanted sides), but
that proved to be a problem with liability for the city. Jersey barriers
are static and have a greater chance of causing injury.
City Manager Chad Bird said the bridge is considered “fracture critical.”
“When
one piece goes, the whole thing goes,” Bird said. “Just look at the
exposure and liability if someone gets on there and the bridge goes
down.”
Billups noted that if the bridge does fall down, it could destroy the sewer beneath it.
“I think we really have to protect the city on this,” Billups said.
Bird noted that the barrels would have further uses beyond protecting the bridge.
“For 12 grand, it seems like money well spent to protect us from a possible lawsuit,” Billups said.
Replacing the Cascade Bridge
The
Cascade Bridge could possibly be replaced for roughly $7 million and
is on the city council’s five-year plan. Ever rising inflation may drive
the price higher over the next few years, though.
“I
think this project is probably the biggest concern, from what happens
with estimation and inflation and how you plan for this bridge. This is
complicated work, and we don’t know how inflation will affect it,” Nick
MacGregor said during an October council meeting.
A
million-dollar grant from the federal government already obtained by
the city is a good start, and other funds will be allocated as well.
That includes more possible grants from national infrastructure
projects.
The council will also be using part
of the city’s $3.6 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to
pay for sewer separation – specifically the South Street sewer basin.
That will free up debt capacity that can be used toward the Cascade
Bridge, which means the city likely won’t have to issue a bond to pay
for it.
Billups confirmed that the bridge will
be a replacement of Cascade Bridge rather than a rehab of the existing
structure, which dates back to 1896. The details will take shape in the
coming months and years.
“The only thing for
certain is that we are planning an all-traffic bridge that will have
vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians,” Billups said.