Sandusky recreation staff: bridge bid issued; cart-path work to start as weather allows

Members of the Sandusky Recreation Advisory Committee on an unspecified date were told the new golf-course bridge design has moved to the bidding stage and that contractors could begin cart-path construction as weather improves.

The committee heard that the city engineering department prepared specifications and design for the replacement bridge and that the city commission approved putting the bridge out to bid at a recent Monday meeting. Staff said bidding began the day of the committee meeting and that, if the process proceeds as expected, the bridge construction would begin after this season and be in place by the start of the next golf season. Committee members were told golfers should expect at least one more season with adjustments around holes 5 and 6 while the bridge work and related restoration proceed.

Committee members and staff also discussed an upcoming cart-path project. Staff reported that drier weather over the coming days should allow crews to start work on the cart path next week, but cautioned there may be intermittent closures for worker safety during construction.

Staff clarified that the bridge design had to be coordinated with a separate restoration project so the bridge placement would not interfere with restoration work; that coordination was one cause of the schedule adjustments. The engineering department produced the plans and specifications, and the project must be bid and awarded to a contractor through the commission.

No formal vote on the bridge or cart-path contract was taken by the Recreation Advisory Committee during this meeting; the committee received updates and discussed timing and expected player impacts. Staff described the timeline as optimistic and said the goal is to have the new bridge completed before the start of the next golf season.