Engineers: Mitchell’s canal bridge in worst shape among inspected structures; council approves preservation grant steps

Don Hammond of Groves Engineering told the City Council that of four inspected structures the Canal Bridge at the lake showed the most serious deterioration, including a rotting timber cap at a joint and a condition rating that triggered annual Federal Highway Administration inspections. He said the structure currently has been load‑rated to about half of legal loads and the city has an engineering plan in place to address it.

Hammond reviewed three other inspected locations: a prestressed girder road bridge that will receive a chip seal; a triple 12×5 reinforced concrete box culvert on Minnesota Avenue with minor spalling and exposed rebar; and a triple 10×5 culvert on Burr Street with similar minor issues. He described the canal bridge deterioration as likely caused by a combination of construction details and environmental exposure, and said the city will monitor and perform repairs as needed.

Separately, staff asked the council to approve utility and right‑of‑way certificates and authorize the mayor to sign documents for a West End Bridge preservation grant. Staff said BROS (bridge preservation project team) is actively working on the West End Bridge project and determined no temporary easements or utility relocations are required; the project will be completed in 2025 and the grant will cover 80% of costs. Council approved the certificates and authorization to sign.

Provenance: Bridge inspection presentation began at SEG 583 and the grant/certificate request is recorded at SEG 1059–1067.