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Commissioners approve contract and engineering agreement to repair Purple People Bridge
Summary
The board authorized repairs to damaged piers and trusses on the Purple People Bridge, accepting a low bid of $272,000 and approving authorizations not to exceed $330,000; engineered inspection services with WSP were also approved.
The Board of Commissioners voted on March 9 to authorize immediate repairs to the Purple People Bridge after city staff said inspections found structural damage to piers and trusses on the Cincinnati side.
City staff reported they put the repairs out to bid and received five responses; Structural Systems Repair Group LLC (SSRBG) submitted the lowest bid. "Their estimate for the project is $272,000," said Brian, the staff member who presented the repair recommendation. The board approved authorization for an amount not to exceed $330,000 to provide a buffer for alternates and contingencies.
Staff said the bridge has been temporarily shored with a tower that costs about $9,000 per month and that the city assumed full ownership last year. Brian said staff anticipated contacting the contractor the day after approval and expected mobilization in under 30 days; he estimated total onsite repair time at 30 to 60 days, depending on weather and alternates.
The board also approved an agreement with WSP Engineering to provide design and inspection services during repairs; staff said WSP is the engineer of record and will supervise repair work and provide on‑site inspection. City staff noted about $180,000 in private pledges (BNY and MeadNKY) are on hand and that interest earnings from invested project funds can temporarily bridge the funding gap while staff pursues additional outside contributions.
Commissioners emphasized the bridge’s regional importance and pressed staff for follow‑up reporting on stakeholder outreach, scheduling and potential closures. Staff said intermittent closures to allow safe construction are possible and that the public would be notified in advance.
Action: the board approved the contract authorization and the WSP agreement; staff will proceed to finalize arrangements with the contractor and schedule work.
