CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Waive the first reading and pass the ordinance amending Section 11-3-1 of the Naperville Municipal Code establishing an eight-ton weight restriction for the Washington Street Bridge until construction of the replacement bridge is completed (requires six positive votes)
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Andrew Hynes, Traffic Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
2016 Weight Restriction
Staff works with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to maintain City bridges in accordance with the National Bridge Program. The Federal National Bridge Inspection Standards govern the program including inspection and evaluation of highway bridges nationwide. IDOT maintains the inventory of bridges throughout the State of Illinois.
The IDOT Bridge Office inspected the Washington Street Bridge in downtown Naperville between Chicago Avenue and Aurora Avenue in September 2015. IDOT’s inspection findings were consistent with inspections conducted by City staff and consultants. Following this inspection, IDOT determined that a 15-ton weight restriction on the Washington Street Bridge was necessary. On January 19, 2016, City Council passed ordinance 16-005 establishing a 15-ton weight limit on the Washington Street Bridge.
Bridge Reconstruction
Engineering for the complete replacement of the existing bridge started several years ago and is now complete (CIP Project BR031). City Council recently approved an agreement for the construction of this new bridge and bids for the project will be opened on November 18, 2022. Work on the replacement bridge is expected to begin in spring 2023.
DISCUSSION:
City staff and the consultant have been performing monthly inspections on the Washington Street Bridge to monitor its condition for the past several years and found the condition to have been relatively stable during this time. However, the most recent inspection showed signs of further deterioration. After consulting with the bridge engineers for the Illinois Department of Transportation, they directed the City to lower the posted weight limit to eight tons (16,000 pounds) and close the traffic lanes on the bridge over two beams. Traffic control and signage near the bridge for these changes have been installed. The new load restriction will keep the bridge operational and must remain in place until it is reconstructed.
Accordingly, the existing weight restriction ordinance for the Washington Street Bridge must be updated with the new weight limit of eight tons. Passenger vehicles (typically 1.5 to 3 tons) will not be affected by this revised weight limitation. When reconstruction of the Washington Street Bridge is complete (anticipated in 2024), this temporary weight restriction can be rescinded.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The new weight limit and lane closures will require temporary traffic control and signage that will need to be maintained until the start of the bridge reconstruction project.