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Council hears DOT plan of action for 22nd Street Bridge, directs assessment of scour risk
Summary
Gemini Engineering told the Belleair Beach council that DOT has designated the 22nd Street Bridge scour‑critical because pile depths are unknown; council directed staff to commission a planning‑level assessment (geotech, nondestructive pile testing, structural stability) estimated at about $100,000 and to return with options and cost estimates.
Gemini Engineering presented a history of inspections and a DOT Plan of Action (POA) for the 22nd Street Bridge, saying the bridge was flagged as scour‑susceptible in the 1990s and later designated scour‑critical. The consultant emphasized the POA "is not saying that the bridge is unsafe" but that the structure is susceptible because pile depths and underwater conditions are unknown.
The firm said nondestructive tests and a geotechnical program are needed to estimate pile depth and to complete a phase‑three stability analysis that DOT had not performed. "Once you know what that pile depth is or at least an estimate of it, then a structural analysis has to be performed," the presenter said, recommending a planning‑level assessment to compare countermeasures (riprap/rip‑wrap) versus full replacement. The consultant cited a planning‑level cost estimate for the assessment of roughly "plus or minus $100,000."
Council members pressed for cost context and timelines: staff said the city has roughly $400,000 set aside for bridges, that prior DOT repair estimates (from 2013) are outdated, and that a repair could range from about $500,000 to $1 million while a full replacement would be substantially more. Staff noted some participants referenced figures inconsistently in discussion; staff will provide a formal written estimate after the structural subconsultant completes its scope and cost estimate.
Action and next steps: the council agreed to commission the assessment, have Gemini submit a formal proposal after the structural subconsultant’s estimate arrives, and return to a future meeting with option‑level costs and schedules. Staff also said they are pursuing applicable grant programs and county assistance to help fund remediation.
