Consent 8.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Community Development
- Meeting Date:
- 04/12/2011
- Title:
- Mescal Bridge Resolution
- Submitted By:
- Frances Marinez, Community Development
- Department:
- Community Development
- Division:
- Highway
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
1
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
n/a
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
n/a
Docket Number (If applicable):
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Agenda Item Text:
Adopt Resolution 11-14 supporting the timely reconstruction of the Mescal / J-Six Ranch Road bridge on Interstate 10.
Background:
Late in the evening on March 15, 2011 two semi-trucks crashed on Interstate 10 and ultimately came to rest under the Mescal/J-Six Ranch Road Bridge. A fire ensued and, as a result of one of the trucks carrying electronics that included magnesium products, the fire was extraordinarily hot and appeared to have exploded into a fireball that impacted the underside of the bridge. The supporting metal beams were warped upward by the force of that explosion and portions actually melted. The cement pilings were damaged and an inspection by the ADOT bridge team found that the bridge had been compromised and would not be able to safely carry the weight load of a vehicle. ADOT provided basic repairs to the Interstate 10 roadway (asphalt pavement had also been melted by the heat of the fire) and re-opened the Interstate to regular traffic the morning of March 16th.
A detour for local traffic was identified requiring travelers to go five miles either west or east to access the Emprita and SR 90 interchanges. Although the Skyline interchange is closer it was designed for very limited ranch access and is not a two-way traffic configuration. As a result, ADOT has discouraged its use as a detour route in order to maintain its functionality for those residents reliant on the Skyline interchange for access to their parcels (about 75 residential units are located north of the Interstate that take primary access from Skyline at this time). Ramps at the interchange were determined to be unaffected by the incident and remain open.
Both ADOT and Cochise County are considering various temporary alternative routes. To date, there have been challenges to developing such an alternative route in a span of time that provides any relief. Among those have been right-of-way, addressing the multiple drainageways, environmental constraints and resources for the construction.
ADOT has developed a demolition plan for the Bridge (scheduled for April 8th, the Bridge should be demolished by the time of this Board meeting); has almost completed a reconstruction design and is preparing a bid package. Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Funds have been committed to ADOT for this reconstruction. A very tentative timeline for reconstruction is nine months with construction possibly beginning in early summer. One of the time constraints is obtaining materials for the bridge and ADOT is considering material availability and delivery times in their final design.
A detour for local traffic was identified requiring travelers to go five miles either west or east to access the Emprita and SR 90 interchanges. Although the Skyline interchange is closer it was designed for very limited ranch access and is not a two-way traffic configuration. As a result, ADOT has discouraged its use as a detour route in order to maintain its functionality for those residents reliant on the Skyline interchange for access to their parcels (about 75 residential units are located north of the Interstate that take primary access from Skyline at this time). Ramps at the interchange were determined to be unaffected by the incident and remain open.
Both ADOT and Cochise County are considering various temporary alternative routes. To date, there have been challenges to developing such an alternative route in a span of time that provides any relief. Among those have been right-of-way, addressing the multiple drainageways, environmental constraints and resources for the construction.
ADOT has developed a demolition plan for the Bridge (scheduled for April 8th, the Bridge should be demolished by the time of this Board meeting); has almost completed a reconstruction design and is preparing a bid package. Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Funds have been committed to ADOT for this reconstruction. A very tentative timeline for reconstruction is nine months with construction possibly beginning in early summer. One of the time constraints is obtaining materials for the bridge and ADOT is considering material availability and delivery times in their final design.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
If approved, the resolution will be presented to the State Transportation Board at their monthly meeting being held on April 15th in Gilbert, Arizona by staff or a member of the Board of Supervisors.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
n/a
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Please provide Supervisor Searle with copy of recorded documents (or unrecorded documents if time does not permit) for April 15th State Transportation Board meeting. Please return a copy of the recorded documents to H&F, attn: Rorri Perez.