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Commissioners press staff on multi-million-dollar bridge engineering estimates
Summary
Commissioners questioned why the Bellevue Missouri River bridge and Fort Crook Road work show relatively modest near-term engineering figures in the CIP when staff estimates total engineering through construction could be $6—67 million and the Fort Crook program shows multi-year engineering and later construction years.
During the Planning Commission's public hearing on the CIP, commissioners asked staff to clarify engineering figures for two major bridge projects. A commissioner asked whether the $1,000,000 shown for three years of engineering on the Bellevue Missouri River bridge covered all design and construction work; Public Works staff member Todd replied that $1,000,000 is only a portion and that total engineering through construction is currently estimated at "about 6 or $7,000,000 all the way through to construction" because of environmental work, coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, right-of-way needs and other complexities.
On the Fort Crook Road bridge, commissioners observed entries showing $300,000 in engineering in the first year, another $300,000 in the second year, and an additional $7,000,000 later in the schedule; Todd said construction is likely in 2030 or 2031 and that long lead times, closures and demolition/rebuild work explain the multi-year engineering totals. "When you design, especially something that big ... you've got environmental, you've got the Corps of Engineers, you've got right of way," Todd said, explaining why multi-year engineering is necessary. Commissioners noted such figures imply extended closures and significant cost, and staff said the bridge will be demoed and rebuilt and could be closed for multiple years.
