Updated: February 25, 2008
Current Events
We would like to re-affirm with the residents of Ann Arbor, motorists along Huron Parkway, and users of the surrounding areas of Gallup Park and Huron Hills Golf Course, that the work that we are presently finishing on the Huron Parkway Bridge is being safely performed and that the Contractor is following all established health and safety guidelines. The placement of the construction vehicles and equipment on the bridge has been planned, and the vehicles placed, such that the heaviest vehicles are located over, or near, the piers that support the steel bridge structure. This is the safest loading configuration. Also, while the vehicles are large, their loading is not especially significant and we do not expect it to be a concern.
We have a full-time inspector on-site to oversee the work and the Contractor’s operation. If we observe any activities that cause concern we will communicate them immediately to the Contractor and reduce or eliminate any potentially hazardous or unsafe operation.
Project Schedule
We have been working on this project since May 21, 2007. The work began with the painting of the portion of the bridge over Geddes Avenue and proceeded northerly. Work at the intersection of Huron Parkway/Geddes Avenue was scheduled to begin on June 15th, but did not commence until July 12th because of delays associated with other work that was being performed. The roadwork at the intersection was performed in several phases and the intersection opened to traffic on September 17, 2007. The bridge painting work was completed on September 7, 2007.
We expect that the structural steel repairs will be completed on, or about, February 25, 2008, and the painting of the repair areas over Geddes Avenue will be completed by the end of February 2008.
We will return to the site in late April or May of this year to complete the restoration work. We will also be on-site to complete repairs to the longitudinal bridge joint that runs down the center of the bridge itself. It is too cold to perform this work now. The bridge joint repairs will be performed such that all lanes of traffic will be open during the morning and evening rush hours. We expect that it will take about 1 week to complete the repair work.
Project Background
The Huron Parkway Bridge over the Huron River and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks was originally constructed in 1968. The bridge is, perhaps, the most scenic crossing of the Huron River within Washtenaw County. The bridge underwent a major structural rehabilitation in 1999 and 2000 during which the existing deck was replaced on the east side of the bridge and was overlaid on the west side, the sidewalk was widened and a new sidewalk was added on the west side of the bridge. Barrier railing was installed, as well as the pedestrian-height railings.
The Huron Parkway Bridge Painting and Intersection Improvements Project is repainting the existing structural steel, repairing steel damaged due to corrosion, and completing the rehabilitation that began in 1999. The re-painting is being undertaken at this time due to unavoidable conflicts that would have been encountered with other construction projects in the project’s vicinity, as well as construction in other parts of town or on the surrounding highways that would have made closing lanes on Huron Parkway problematic. To provide a sense of perspective regarding the amount of work to be performed, we have estimated that there is about 3.4 acres of surface area to clean and re-coat on this bridge, or about 2.6 football fields (including the end zones)!
As part of this project, improvements have been made to the intersection of Geddes Road and Huron Parkway at the south end of the bridge, in order to eliminate existing site distance deficiencies with the current alignment of the ramps onto Huron Parkway. There have been many accidents in the area of the ramps due to “merging” movements or motorists unexpectedly stopping. As a result, we have been able to secure Federal Safety Funds to make improvements to this intersection.
Existing Conditions
Huron Parkway Bridge
Here are some examples of the deterioration that was repaired we will be repairing as part of this project: example1, example2, example3. The deterioration is not structurally severe, but if not repaired soon, it will lead to other problems that will be much more difficult and costly to repair. Though the deterioration was not structurally severe, the likelihood of other more difficult and costly problems occurring would have greatly increased if this work had not been done.
Geddes Road/Huron parkway intersection
The intersection of Geddes Road/Huron Parkway currently is a tee intersection with on-ramps for north- and south-bound Geddes Road traffic to access Huron Parkway. Unfortunately, the ramps do not have sufficient site distance and taper length to allow the safe merging of traffic. As a result, Geddes Road traffic usually comes to a stop, waits for an acceptable gap in Huron Parkway traffic, and then completes the merging maneuver. This leads to rear-end and sideswipe accidents as people attempt to enter Huron Parkway.
Proposed Work
Huron Parkway Bridge
The bridge painting project stripped the existing paint system off of all exposed structural steel and re-coated it with a three-component system. This was necessary due to the lack of adhesion of the existing paint system to the existing steel components. We have determined that the previously existing paint system that was on the bridge contained a lead-based paint. During the removal process, the Contractor was required to enclose the areas that are being cleaned and create a “negative-pressure”, or suction, environment such that no dust or debris escapes the containment area. This is a common practice in today’s workplace and our Contractor was familiar with the requirements from an environmental, and an occupational health and safety, viewpoint. We are confident that no adverse affects relating to this work will result to the workers, the users of Gallup Park or surrounding residents, the Huron River, or any other areas.
We have made repairs to structural steel that was damaged due to corrosion or other factors.
Finally, there were small areas of delamination on the bridge deck that were repaired while performing the structural steel and painting work.
Geddes Road/Huron Parkway Intersection
The proposed work at the Huron Parkway/Geddes Road intersection consists of removing the existing southbound directional ramp and realigning the intersection in a tee configuration whereby all traffic will approach the intersection and make “conventional” left and right turns. We will also provide a safe crossing location for pedestrians at the realigned intersection. We will convert the existing southbound access ramp to Huron Parkway into a Non-motorized path between Geddes Road and Huron Parkway. The entrance to the path from Geddes Road will be re-configured to prohibit vehicles from accessing it, but will allow bicycles and pedestrians easy access. Similarly, the path at its connection point to Huron Parkway will be re-configured to eliminate the right-angle crossing of the ramp for pedestrians and bicyclists and smoothly transition the two paths into one that leads southbound along Huron Parkway. An important element of this work will be the installation of a traffic signal at this location. The signal will be interconnected with the existing traffic signals at the Fuller/Geddes/Huron Parkway and the Huron Parkway/E. Huron River Drive intersections for optimal performance.
Click here to view a rendered drawing of the proposed improvements to this intersection.
Construction Impacts
We anticipate that all lanes will be open to traffic on or about February 29, 2008. Currently planned future work will consist of minor restorations in the Spring.
We will take all reasonable steps to limit any further disturbance
Proposed Funding
We are receiving $1,675,800 in Federal Funds (STPU Funds) for the work associated with the painting and $240,000 in Federal Safety Funds for the intersection improvements work. The remainder of the work will be paid for with revenue we receive from Weight and Gas taxes and our Street Reconstruction Millage. The breakdown of these funds is about $1,107,200 and $735,000, respectively, for a total City share of $1,842,200.
The total project budget is $3,758,000. The final costs of the project will be based on the actual quantities of work performed.
Questions or Concerns:
Michael Nearing, P.E., Senior Project Manager
734-994-6147
mnearing@a2gov.org