| 8/14/2009 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Advisory group member Peter Woodburn asks a question during a Milton-Madison Bridge Project Advisory Group meeting at Milton Baptist Church on Thursday. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie) |
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| The tops of the existing piers would be widened and three piers would receive minor rehabilitation if $100 million of federal stimulus money is received to build a new, wider superstructure over the Ohio River connecting Madison and Milton, Ky. The new bridge would have two, 12-foot-wide lanes for one lane of traffic in each direction, shoulders on both sides and a sidewalk. The existing bridge has two lanes, each 10 feet wide. (Courier file photo)
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| • Project contingent on $100M federal grant
• Ferry would shuttle vehicles across river
• Work would begin in 2010, end in 2012
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Bridge to use existing piers
Sara Denhart
Courier Staff Writer
One of the options for a new bridge - replacing the structure on top of the existing piers and not changing the approaches - will be submitted for a federal stimulus grant. Traffic, walkers and bicyclists could be using the new bridge by 2012.
For up to 12 months during construction, two ferry boats would go back and forth across the river, but panel trucks would be the largest vehicles they could carry. The ferries might be able to carry an ambulance, but probably not a fire truck and definitely not a semi, consultants told the bridge advisory group and a large audience Thursday night.
Improvements might have to be made to the Milton boat launch to accommodate the ferries, one of the consultants said. On the Madison side, the ferry might use an old landing at the end of Ferry Street or possibly the boat launch at the end of West Street, he said.
The option, as well as the other options that are still under consideration in case a grant is not received, include toll booths, the advisory group was told. Information about the amount of possible tolls will be presented at a future advisory group meeting.
The option to build on the existing piers was jumped ahead of other route possibilities that consultants have been studying because of the possibility of stimulus funds, the bridge advisory group was told at a packed meeting at Milton Baptist Church in Milton, Ky. The decision to move forward with one option this early in the bridge replacement process was a surprise.
An application for the stimulus funds must be submitted by Sept. 15. The announcement of recipients of the funds will be in January 2010. The stimulus funds would pay most of the costs, but Indiana and Kentucky each would pay a share.
All except two members of the Milton-Madison Bridge Project Advisory Group voted to endorse moving ahead with the option after the consultants recommended it.
No additional property would be needed on either side of the river, which is one reason the consultants favored this option. Obtaining property can take years.
Another major, unexpected announcement at the advisory group meeting was that each state will be responsible for building different approaches on their side of the bridge if they so choose.
Deputy project manager Tim Sorenson of Wilbur Smith Associates in Lexington, Ky., said the two states will apply for a stimulus grant to pay $100 million of the $131 million estimated cost.
If federally funded, both states have pledged to pay the remaining $31 million.
Project manager John Carr, vice president of Wilbur Smith Associates, said property acquisition for right of way could take months or years to purchase and gain because of the federal rights guaranteed to property owners. Carr said if the project is given federal funds, there would not be enough time for property acquisition because of guidelines for when the grant must be spent.
"Every month is critical," Carr said. "I've been involved in projects that take five to eight years to buy property for approaches because people kept appealing rulings in court."
Money from the federal stimulus package was earmarked for TIGER, or Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery grants, to improve the condition of existing infrastructure, economic competitiveness and community quality of life, to promote energy efficiency and less dependence on oil, and to improve safety.
Each state has a cap of $300 million for its projects, and Kentucky and Indiana have agreed to send a handful of projects to the federal government for approval. Both entities said the Madison-Milton bridge is one of their top projects to be funded.
"We are well in line for these monies," Sorenson said. "We're all about winning. We've got a lot of work to do. We need your help. We're not done. This is only another point."
Sorenson said the states have agreed to pursue the federal funds and only ask for part of the total funding because it makes the application more competitive. The federal government wants applications that include matching local funds.
"This has been evolving of the last couple of weeks," Sorenson said. "We desperately want to be awarded this money."
Sorenson said the only potential obstacles that could prevent a grant application from being submitted are that the environmental work would not be finished or that further study showed that the replacement bridge could not be constructed.
"We think we can do it. It's going to be difficult and hard work," Sorenson said.
Building a new bridge
Earlier this year, engineers tested the 80-year-old piers of the Madison-Milton bridge to determine if they could handle a new structure placed on top of them. The study showed the piers could be used, though three would require what one of the consultants called minor rehabilitation. All of the piers would be widened at the top to support two 12-foot-wide traffic lanes, a shoulder on each side and a sidewalk. It will cost $17 million to rehabilitate and retrofit the piers for a new superstructure.
The new bridge would be 40 feet wide. The current bridge has two, 10-foot-wide lanes with no shoulders. The new bridge superstructure could also include a bike lane or path depending on final engineering plans.
A new superstructure with minimal approaches would maintain the access to Madison and Milton, but it would cause a temporary disruption to both river communities as the bridge would be closed for up to 12 months for construction. The retrofitting and modification of the piers could be done in the second quarter of 2010, and could be done while traffic was using the bridge.
The new superstructure would result in the loss of the current 80-year-old bridge and would cause the peregrine falcon nest to be relocated. The approaches would still remain in the floodplain and construction would affect Jaycee Park in downtown Madison. But, a path from Jaycee Park to Milton Park could be created, so people could bike or walk to both parks.
"We're going to have an easier time connecting in Madison. The roads are wider," Sorenson said.
"It doesn't all meet all of our needs," said Kevin Watkins, project advisory group member.
"It does improve traffic and safety a little bit," Sorenson said.
The superstructure replacement with minimal approaches option does not affect any property in historic districts in either Madison or Milton, or require any business to relocate in either city. The other options of Tiber Creek A, Tiber Creek B and Canip Creek would affect at least 73 properties and result in at least 16 businesses having to relocate.
The estimated costs for the other options, including the cost of demolishing the existing bridge, are $189 million for Tiber Creek A, $199 million for Tiber Creek B and $219 million for Canip Creek.
Public comment
The public and project advisory group members had mixed reactions to the unexpected advancement of the option to build on the existing piers.
Milton resident Joe Wentworth, who owns property where the Canip Creek option would be built, said Carr had told him the superstructure option was not a done deal and all options would be considered.
"You all have done a hell of a job of selling it," Wentworth said. "I disagree with you."
Wentworth said he has been building roads and bridges for 40 years, and he said the numbers were skewed to show the superstructure as a preferred way to go.
Sorenson said all the numbers, figures and information are accurate, and must be to adhere to state and federal guidelines.
"We just want a new bridge," Wentworth said.
Milton resident George Freeman asked how the bridge would be kept from being flooded as it was in 1997. Sorenson said it would not be kept from flooding. The whole area is in the floodplain.
Milton resident Mike Beard said the announcement did not allow for public opinion.
"You kind of done away with public opinion," Beard said.
Carr said public opinion is still being accepted and will continue to be a factor as the bridge study is performed.
"I seem to think it's the only way we're going to get a bridge," said Nolan Hamilton, project advisory group member. "Do we want a bridge or not want a bridge?"
"I can't see not pursuing this kind of money," Watkins said.
"I'm very encouraged. I never thought I'd live to see this day," said Ronnie Barnes, project advisory group member.
Milton resident Harold Butler, 92, said he remembers the opening of the bridge 80 years ago.
"The wind was blowing 50 miles per hour," Butler said. "It was cold. It cost 45 cents to drive one way across the bridge. It was 90 cents to drive back and forth the bridge. That was a whole day's wage in 1930."
Carr said he hopes to have Butler at the dedication of the new bridge in 2012.
"We hope everyone understands it's our best opportunity," Carr said. "It really looks good for us. We are going to be going full steam ahead."
Local officials weigh in
Local officials and representatives also were in the crowd to provide their opinion on the announcement.
Mayor Tim Armstrong said the federal funding was "an excellent opportunity to take advantage of." He said he was concerned about local business, but he would work to find a solution while the bridge was closed for construction.
"I look at it as a short-term pain," Armstrong said about the closure. "It's not the ideal location or situation. Bottom line is, we need a bridge. There are going to be some growing pains."
Trimble County, Ky., Judge-Executive Randy Stevens said the ultimate goal for him is the safety of citizens.
"I see my job tomorrow morning as lobbying for approaches funding," Stevens said.
Stevens said the approaches to the bridge are important because Milton Hill is crumbling, and is being repaired by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet because heavy rain last week washed away part of the hillside road. Also, the 90-degree turns to get onto and off the bridge are still a problem.
"Let's do it right," Stevens said. "We need to work toward a permanent fix."
On a federal level, a representative of Congressman Baron Hill, D-Indiana, said he will be recommending the bridge project for funding.
"Congressman (Baron) Hill will support this," she said. "It's important to Madison."
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Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, August 14, 2009
Article comment by:
trish cox
why will it that years to buy extra land we have all been waiting for years to sell. after all we live on the river bed, and we will be flooded again.
get it over with already.
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