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Mason Creek Middle School pedestrian bridge needs repairs; district told cost about $1 million
Summary
Assistant superintendent of operations told the board the pedestrian bridges at Mason Creek Middle School fail to meet current load‑bearing specifications and staff recommended contracting Bowen and Watson for repairs; architect SAE offered redesign and engineering work at no cost. Board members questioned cost sharing and long‑term durability.
Chris Small, assistant superintendent of operations, recommended on March 3 that the board enter into a contract with Bowen and Watson for construction and repairs to pedestrian bridges at Mason Creek Middle School. The recommendation is scheduled for approval on March 17, 2025.
Small told the board the total proposal to repair the bridge is “about a million dollars,” and that the engineer’s assessment found the bridge “did not meet the required specifications for full load bearing capacity.” Small said the architect (identified in the report as SAE) would provide redesign and engineering work at no cost.
Board member Miss Simmons pressed staff about who should bear project costs and why the district was being asked to absorb much of the repair expense. Simmons asked how the architect’s fee would be handled and noted standard architect compensation is a percentage of the project. Small said typical architectural fees run between 5 and 6 percent of the project value, which on a $1 million project would be roughly $50,000–$60,000.
Simmons said she was concerned about proration and asked whether the district was being asked to absorb excess costs attributable to defects or erosion. Board members discussed possible causes — design, materials or erosion — and noted that permitting and state inspections had been part of the original construction process. Small said the assessment report indicated the bridge does not meet current load specifications now; it was not framed as a finding that the bridge did not meet specifications at the time of construction.
Board members asked for additional review and noted legal and contractual options could be costly and might approach the price of repairs. Small said the recommendation to contract with Bowen and Watson would return for approval at the board’s March 17 meeting, and staff will continue to seek clarity on cost allocation and potential accountability from design or construction partners.
Why it matters: the bridge repairs could require a sizable unbudgeted expenditure, raise questions about construction quality and warranty responsibilities, and affect student access at Mason Creek Middle School.
No construction contract was approved March 3; staff scheduled the formal approval vote for March 17, 2025.
