Councillors in the Canadian city hope to save up to US$12.2 million through the removal of an earlier stipulation that the new bridge should have a similar five-span arrangement to the original structure.
This week’s decision means that brief now says simply that "the existing Traffic Bridge be replaced with a modern steel truss bridge and efforts be made to incorporate elements that are sympathetic to the heritage and architecture of the existing bridge." The structure over the wetted perimeter of the river would still be required to be a steel Parker through-truss bridge.
The Traffic Bridge was closed in August 2010 because of public safety concerns as a result of advanced deterioration of critical structural members. Three teams were shortlisted in October 2014 for the contract for the North Commuter Parkway and Traffic Bridge replacement. The three bidders are Bridge City Infrastructure Group, Bridge City Partners and Graham Commuter Partners.
Through the request for proposals process, the council had identified potential cost savings by reducing the rigidity of the requirements. Allowing proponents the flexibility to use fewer spans is expected to result in a more cost-effective solution, with potential savings in the range of US$8.1 million to US$12.2 million.
The estimated capital cost of the North Commuter Parkway is US$172.2 million, and the estimated cost to replace the Traffic Bridge had earlier been put at US$33.6 million.
It is expected the project agreement will be in place with a preferred proponent by November 2015.
