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Council OKs $16,035 for engineering to assess repairs on Dixie Street Bridge
Summary
Council approved ordinance 2026.36 to fund $16,035 in engineering services to design repairs for the Dixie Street Bridge; staff said weight limit was temporarily reduced from 8 to 5 tons and estimated repairs likely under $100,000 while full replacement could be about $750,000.
Roanoke Rapids City Council approved a budget ordinance to contract engineering services for the Dixie Street Bridge after staff said routine inspections revealed structural deficiencies.
City Manager Traynor presented ordinance 2026.36, requesting $16,035 to produce engineered drawings and construction-administration scope for repairs. She told council the engineering is a two-part process: design drawings and oversight of construction administration, and said the bridge’s weight limit has been reduced from 8 tons to 5 tons until repairs are complete.
Traynor said an engineering firm thought a repair similar to one done in another community cost about $45,000 and that repairs would likely be less than $100,000; she said replacement would be substantially more — about $750,000. She said the city must obtain plans before bidding construction and that having plans would allow staff to pursue grant funding.
Council moved to adopt ordinance 2026.36 (mover: Mr. Beale; second: Miss Bryant) and approved the measure by voice vote.
Why it matters: The engineering appropriation starts a formal process to identify repair scope and competitive construction costs; temporary load restrictions affect traffic and emergency response routing and justify prioritizing design work.
Next steps: If council approves the engineering contract, staff will return with cost estimates for construction and recommended funding approaches, including potential grants.
