Bridge Deck Rehabilitation to Follow in the Near Future

DENVER – In a recent bridge inspection that took place earlier this week, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) bridge engineers determined that portions of the northbound I-25 bridge deck over Santa Fe Drive need to be rehabilitated due to deteriorating concrete.

The repairs include removing the existing asphalt, removing the deteriorated concrete, replacing the bridge deck with new concrete, paving, and striping. The majority of the repairs will take place in the right lane of northbound I-25 with additional work taking place in the other lanes of northbound I-25 over Santa Fe Drive.

Prior to the bridge deck rehabilitation, starting tonight, crews will begin making immediate repairs by shoring the I-25 bridge deck to prevent concrete from falling onto Santa Fe Drive from the bridge above. As a result, up to two lanes of southbound Santa Fe Drive will be closed tonight, April 15th, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Additional lane closures may be required during the same hours tomorrow night if crews cannot complete the shoring tonight. I-25 should not be impacted by this work.

The bridge deck rehabilitation will begin once CDOT has secured a contractor to do this work. This work will likely impact traffic on northbound I-25 as well as both directions of Santa Fe Drive at some point in the near future. A plan for how this work will be completed, when and the cost of the rehabilitation is still under development.

The northbound and southbound I-25 bridges over Santa Fe Drive were both constructed in 1958 and are two of Colorado’s structurally deficient bridges in poor condition. The stretch of I-25 carries over 200,000 vehicles a day.

CDOT is in the process of designing a project that will ultimately replace both I-25 bridges over Santa Fe Drive. The project is estimated to cost between $65 and $75 million, however a schedule for replacing these bridges has not yet been determined.

The safety project in the 50-mph section will help prevent head-on collisions, CDOT says. The project is scheduled to begin this summer, according to Nashat Sawaged, an engineer with CDOT.

Go to the Littleton Independent to see the entire article.

This wooden bridge carrying CO 67 over a draw in Teller County was built in 1939 and is one of the 124 poor-rated bridges FASTER is designed to replace. CDOT photo.

By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

The beefed-up late fees that came with last year’s FASTER bill to fund repair of the state’s unsafe bridges and poor-condition roadways had the well-documented result of angering procrastinating motorists who found themselves hit with late charges up to $100 instead of $10.

But they have also had a much quieter and positive effect.

More and more people are registering their vehicles on time rather than letting their expired registrations lag.

That is reflected in an estimate put together by the Colorado Legislative Council, the nonpartisan analytical arm of the General Assembly.

According to a fiscal note prepared for analysis of HB 1173, which would restore to county clerks some discretion to waive FASTER late fees in circumstances beyond the control of a vehicle owner, late fees for the upcoming fiscal year that starts in July are projected to be only a small percentage of what they were in the first year.

Complete numbers are unavailable for the current year – obviously, we’re still in it – but in just the first six months that FASTER was in effect, late fee revenue amounted to $11.8 million from July through December.

While the second six months, through this June, are unlikely to see that level, it will only add to the total.

But for the 2010-11 fiscal year, Legislative Council’s projection for late fees is much less, an indication that the publicity has owners going through their piles of paperwork and making sure they register on time.

“Based on the current declining trend in late vehicle registrations, approximately $4.3 million in total late fees will be collected in FY 2010-11,” the council fiscal analyst Kurtis Morrison wrote in the memo.

That means the entire 12-month projection for next year is only 36 percent of the six-month total from last year, a huge drop in revenue but a big improvement in citizen compliance with on-time vehicle registration.

In the original bill last year, the legislative council had predicted that the break-in period of FASTER would see somewhat of a surge in late fees due to raising them from a flat $10 for any duration to $25 per month up to four months. But it also said that after this “initial period, collections from late registration fees are not expected to be significant.”

FASTER is anticipated to raise from $200 to $250 million a year – the bridge replacement fee is being implemented in three annual stages, hence the increasing amount over time. It was the first new revenue to come into the state’s Highway Users Tax Fund in 18 years, since Colorado’s gas tax last was increased in 1991.

FASTER revenue is earmarked for repair or replacement of CDOT’s 124 poor-rated bridges and for repair of poor-rated roadways. The road repair money is shared among CDOT, counties and municipalities through the state Highway Users Tax Fund. CDOT must also spend at least $10 million in FASTER revenue each year on transit-related projects that improve state highway safety for transit users.

Even though late fees are declining precipitously, the legislature is debating this year over at least a half dozen bills in response to the outrage with which motorists greeted the fees last summer.

Two bills have advanced.

One, sponsored by FASTER’s prime mover from last year, Democratic Rep. Joe Rice of Littleton, and Sen. Gail Schwartz, a Democrat from Pitkin County, would allow clerks to consider certain circumstances, such as acts of God and weather-related delays, office closures and medical hardships. HB 1212 bill directs the Department of Revenue to write the rules and regulations and ensure the policy is uniform across the state.

The full House has passed that on to the Senate, along with another bill, HB 1211. That one would limit total late fees to $10 on non-motorized vehicles such as utility trailers that weigh up to 2,000 pounds, no matter how long the delay in registering.

Sponsored by Rep. Max Tyler, a Jefferson County Democrat, and Sen. Suzanne Williams, an Arapahoe County Democrat, HB 1211 would allow the county governments to retain that $10 instead of going into the FASTER program.

It would leave in place the $25 monthly late fees, up to a cap of $100, on late registrations of other vehicles including cars. Under previous law, clerks could waive all or a portion of the fees. FASTER did away with that discretion.

Other bills dealing with FASTER are awaiting committee action:
• HB 1102 (Rep. Carol Murray, R-Castle Rock, and Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton): Reduces the late fee to a maximum of $25 for non-motorized vehicles weighing 2,000 pounds or less; exempts the fee for owners who provide an affidavit stating they have not operated the vehicle on a public highway; exempts mobile machinery and self-propelled construction equipment whose owners provide an affidavit that the machinery or equipment has not been operated at all.
• HB 1173 (Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, and Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley): Prohibits imposition of late fees for any portion of a calendar month in which a temporary registration plate, tag, or certificate expires; allows county clerks to waive a late fee based on circumstances beyond the control of the vehicle owner.
• HB 1268 (Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction): Requires the state to implement an two-year registration program for most vehicles that is optional to vehicle owners, and which if the owner selects it would exempt the owner from late fees.
• SB 4 (Sen. Al White, R-Hayden): Repeals the new late fees and restores the previous flat $10 fee that can be waived at the discretion of the county clerks.
• SB 44 (Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, and Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs): Repeals the new late fees and restores the previous flat $10 fee that can be waived at the discretion of the county clerks.
• SB 57 (Sen. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs): Applies FASTER late fees only to motorized vehicles and mobile machinery; all non-motorized vehicle would be subject only to a single late fee of $10, which clerks could waive as before; all late fees for non-motorized vehicles would be retained by the county governments rather than going into the state Highway Users Tax Fund.
• SB 137 (Sen. Renfroe and Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma): Creates new class of registration called “no street use” allowing vehicle owners to idle unused vehicles and be exempt from paying any FASTER fees at all. Tabs would be distinctive colors and vehicles owners would be subject to additional penalties if found to be driving it on public roads.

U.S. 34 east of Estes Park reopens four days ahead of schedule

LARIMER COUNTY – By 6 p.m. tonight, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will reopen U.S .34 just east of Estes Park following an eight-day closure for bridge replacement. U.S. 34 has been closed at milepost 65.4 near Drake since midnight on February 3rd while crews demolished and replaced one of two steel truss bridges originally constructed in 1937.

“Our contractor has been working extremely hard over the last eight days in order to reopen US 34 before Sunday, February 14th,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Scott Ellis. “By prefabricating much of the new bridge and working nearly 24 hours a day, crews were able to complete the work and reopen US 34 four days ahead of schedule and in time for the holiday weekend.”

SEMA Construction, Inc. is the contractor for this $3.8 million project scheduled to be complete by Memorial Day 2010.

CDOT still has one more bridge to replace on US 34 at milepost 66.3, which will require another full closure of US 34 for approximately 12 days. Currently, the second closure is scheduled to take place March 1st through March 12th; however, the closure may be moved to the week of February 22nd to take advantage of good weather.

“We know that March can be a very snowy month so if we have a window of favorable weather conditions in late February we are going to take advantage of it,” added Ellis. “Like with this last bridge, we will have to completely close US 34, but our crews will work through the same construction process in order to reopen US 34 as soon as possible.”

As soon as the contractor determines the exact date of the second closure, more information will be released. You can also visit http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/us-34-truss-bridges or call 970-685-0229 for project updates.

Following both closures, crews will have some minor work to complete. Between the middle of March and the middle of May, crews will install the remaining drainage structures that are outside of the roadway and pave the roadway in asphalt. The paving cannot take place until warmer temperatures return. Other minor work includes staining the concrete on the new bridges and installing the guardrail. During the last two months of construction, motorists can expect single-lane alternating traffic during daytime hours, Monday through Friday.

Clear Creek County – The Colorado Department of Transportation will be stopping traffic in both directions of I-70 for 20 minutes at a time this week for rock-scaling operations at Georgetown Hill. Traffic will be stopped on I-70 westbound at Georgetown and eastbound at Silver Plume between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Tuesday though Thursday (February 2-4). Please note, traffic may be held for up to 20 minutes at a time.

Motorists should expect delays during this time period and are encouraged to plan accordingly. CDOT apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this important safety project.

LARIMER COUNTY – The first full closure of US 34 just east of Estes Park will now take place Wednesday, February 3rd through Sunday, February 14th, weather permitting. The closure is necessary to allow the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to replace the first of two bridges on US 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon. Both structures are steel truss bridges that were constructed in 1937 and are in poor condition.

“Due to the snow we received last night, the contractor is unable to complete the preparatory work by Monday as it requires single-lane alternating traffic and the icy conditions create an unsafe situation for motorists and the flaggers,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Scott Ellis. “As a result, the closure will be postponed two days so that the contractor can complete the preparatory work at the bridge under safe conditions.”

During the closure, US 34 will be completely closed at milepost 65.4 and motorists will be detoured through Lyons along US 287, State Highway 66 and US 36. The closure will be in place 24 hours a day starting at 12:01 a.m. on February 3rd and continuing through February 14th while crews demolish the existing bridge and construct the new bridge. The detour route will add approximately 15 miles (20 minutes) onto a trip from Estes Park to Loveland.

A second closure of US 34 at milepost 66.3 will be required in March to demolish and replace the second structure. This closure is tentatively scheduled for March 1st through March 12th, but is subject to change due to weather or construction activities. The same detour route will be utilized during the second closure of US 34.

“We understand that the full closures are a huge inconvenience, but the only way to replace these aging structures is to completely close the highway,” added Ellis. “We have a fast track method of construction in place that will allow us to complete the majority of work in 12 days so we can reopen US 34 to traffic.”

Following both closures, crews will have some minor work to complete. Between the middle of March and the middle of May, crews will install the remaining drainage structures that are outside of the roadway and pave the roadway in asphalt. The paving cannot take place until warmer temperatures return. Other minor work includes staining the concrete on the new bridges and installing the guardrail. During the last two months of construction, motorists can expect single-lane alternating traffic during daytime hours, Monday through Friday.

For more information about the project, visit http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/us-34-truss-bridges or call 970-685-0229. For frequently asked questions, visit the project Web site.

SEMA Construction, Inc. is the contractor for this $3.8 million project scheduled to be complete by Memorial Day 2010.

By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

The Colorado Department of Transportation is considering issuing bonds to speed up the replacement and repair of poor-rated bridges under the FASTER program.

A bond program could enable CDOT’s new Bridge Enterprise – set up to take over ownership, repair, replacement and maintenance of poor-rated bridges – to take on more of the 124 structures on the list that a pay-as-you-go schedule. While bond interest adds to the total cost down the line, financing is often able to beat the higher prices that inflation can bring while waiting until cash is in hand for the work.

In the meantime, accelerating the work puts more people to work in the near-term.

While some FASTER critics have complained that CDOT hasn’t yet begun any bridge repairs under the controversial program, the law that raised automobile registration fees to pay for it also required a brand new set of rules to handle the work.

Two weeks after FASTER became law last spring, CDOT’s governing board, the Colorado Transportation Commission, transferred $5.4 million from its contingency fund to begin design work on potential FASTER bridge projects.

The Bridge Enterprise Fund spelled out in the FASTER legislation has been set up and in August, CDOT transferred actual ownership of the first year’s selection of 19 poor-rated bridges to this new unit within CDOT to help ensure that the funds are spent properly.

And it’s not like work hasn’t been going on. CDOT is in design on the bridge replacements, and the first one goes out to bid soon. It takes time and money to do the job right, and until FASTER passed CDOT didn’t have the money to do the work.

CDOT spelled out its FASTER bridge activities in a recent report you can read here.

In November, the Bridge Enterprise hired consultant L.S. Gallegos and Associates to come up with innovative ways to package the work so that more bridges can be done sooner.

In the meantime, FASTER revenues from the bridge fee and the separate road safety fee have come in more slowly than projected, likely a result of fewer vehicle registrations and in a different mix of weight classes than projected over the first six months.

While initially expected to raise $50.6 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year that runs through June, the FASTER fees are now projected to raise $45.6 million this year — a nine-percent drop from expectations.

Through December, FASTER’s $9 average bridge safety fee collected $19,584,785 in six months. The figures are in the first annual report on the FASTER Bridge Enterprise Fund, set up to ensure the fees go to their intended purpose.

The bridge fee for the average-weight passenger vehicle increases over the next two years to $13.50 and then $18. FASTER also levied a separate road safety registration fee of $23 per average passenger vehicle. Fees for smaller and larger vehicles vary.

McFadyen’s bill would require the Colorado Department of Transportation to report on whether those killed were CDOT employees or contractors and any measures CDOT implements to avoid recurring fatalities.

Go to the Pueblo Chieftain to see the entire article.

The upstream bridge on U.S. 34, built in 1937, is the lowest-rated bridge -- 6 on a scale of 100 -- on CDOT's list of 124 poor-rated bridges in the state.

The $3.8 million replacement of two structurally deficient steel truss bridges erected in Big Thompson Canyon during the Great Depression – including the lowest-rated bridge on the state system’s list of 124 poor-rated bridges – will force two 12-day closures of U.S. 34 downriver from Estes Park in February and March.

SEMA Construction is doing the work for the Colorado Department of Transportation. The full closures are schedule for Feb. 1-12 for the bridge upstream closer to Estes Park, and for March 1-12 for the second span nine-tenths of a mile downriver – dependent on the cooperation of the weather and the off-site fabrication of the new bridge girders remaining on schedule, as it currently is.

The downstream bridge, also built in 1937, is rated 34 on a scale of 100.

You can click here to view an interactive map, complete with pictures and descriptions including year of construction, of the poor-rated bridges on the CDOT system.

Steel truss bridges cannot be removed in stages to permit continuing traffic because their type of support system requires removal all at once. And the canyon itself is too narrow for a short detour around the work site within CDOT’s right-of-way. A work-zone detour would have required the state to acquire adjacent private property through eminent domain, a costly and unnecessary acquisition since it wouldn’t be needed after construction.

SEMA work crews drill caissons for bridge supports at the upper span two months ago.

The net difference in travel from the two detour points is 15.8 miles, with the detour being 45 miles long.

That leaves motorists with a lengthy detour, depending on their destination. CDOT is recommending than motorists use U.S. 287 south out of Loveland to CO 66 in Longmont, then up through Lyons to Estes Park. Traffic on the canyon road averages about 5,500 vehicles a day.

Here is CDOT’s suggested detour route during the two closures:

View US 34 Bridge Replacement Detour in a larger map

SEMA began work in November by drilling caissons and constructing the bridge abutments at the two sites. Completion is scheduled in May.

CDOT arranged the work schedule so that the closures and disruption occurred during the winter instead of during the summer tourist season.

Below you’ll find a Google Earth aerial view of the canyon showing the locations of the two bridges. Under that are interactive Google Street View photos of the two bridges.

Google Earth view looking toward the northeast shows the two work sites.

Here is the upstream bridge:

View Larger Map

Here is the downstream bridge:

View Larger Map

By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

FASTER is proving to be slower at raising the projected revenue for fixing Colorado’s poor-rated bridges.

While initially expected to raise $50.6 million this year for the new Bridge Enterprise Fund through a newly imposed registration fee of $9 per average passenger vehicle earmarked for bridge repairs, the FASTER fees have come in more slowly than anticipated and are now projected to raise $45.6 million this year — a nine-percent drop from expectations.

Through December, FASTER’s $9 bridge safety fee collected $19,584,785 in six months. Colorado’s state budget year runs from July through June. The figures are in the first annual report on the FASTER Bridge Enterprise Fund, set up to ensure the fees go to their intended purpose. The report was issued on Thursday by the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The bridge fee increases over the next two years to $13.50 and then $18. A separate FASTER road safety registration fee of $23 per average passenger vehicle was also levied. Fees for smaller and larger vehicles also vary by weight.

This table shows the fee schedule set under the FASTER Bill to fund transportation road and bridge safety projects.

CDOT also has revised its forecasts for FASTER bridge revenue in subsequent years as the full fee takes effect. For the next fiscal year starting in June, it now expects $72 million instead of $75 million, and in the 2011-12 fiscal year and beyond, it anticipated $92 million instead of $100 million.

You can read CDOT’s annual Bridge Enterprise Fund report here.

FASTER provided the first new revenue source for road and bridge maintenance in 18 years, when the gas tax last was raised. FASTER revenue is shared with the state, counties and cities.

Last August, the Colorado Transportation Commission selected 17 candidate bridges for repair or replacement with the first year’s funds from FASTER. It was an optimistic list, with the $70.44 million total cost of the projects exceeding the projected revenue, but some of the projects had other non-FASTER revenue sources to add to the mix and it’s always better to have more projects shovel-ready than not enough.

Even so, the lower-than-projected revenue – the result of fewer vehicle registrations and in a different mix of weight classes than projected over the first six months – makes it less likely than ever that all 17 can be done this year. Here is a photo tour of the initial 17 bridges that were selected.

CDOT expects to approve advertisement for construction bids on the first FASTER bridge project next week at the monthly commission meeting. The first bridge replacement project will be the CO 69 span over Turkey Creek in Huerfano County, about 18 miles northwest of Walsenburg. It is a steel through-truss structure built in 1939, and the replacement cost is estimated to be $3 million. It is rated at 26.9 on a scale of 100, for structural deficiency. A rating under 50 is “poor.”

That will quickly be followed by several more bid solicitations.

“Several others are scheduled to follow close behind with advertisement and construction,” the CDOT report reads. “First construction is anticipated to begin this spring. A majority of the candidate bridges are anticipated to have construction contracts awarded by midyear.

“All bridges on this list are scheduled to be advertised and bid before the end of 2010.”

CDOT staff is working on the 2010-11 fiscal year list of bridges.

There are many from which to choose.

There are 124 poor-rated bridges in the state, and you can take a picture tour of them here, with all their vital stats, through a Google Maps directory set up by Inside Lane.