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FROM THE OCTOBER,16 2009 MARCO EAGLE

Smokehouse Bay Bridge

Council will decide whether to approve a contract to have engineering designs completed for replacement of the dual-span Smokehouse Bay Bridge at a cost of about $250,000.

About 600 residents voted for their favorite of the five preliminary designs created by five different firms at a cost of $25,000 each. The two designs city staff have recommended are not the favorite of the residents, according to the city’s survey. However, in his memo to Council, Public Works Director Rony Joel put forward the two least expensive designs.

“Staff has concluded that the two bridge structures are rapidly approaching the end of their useful life and they will be required to be replaced in the 2013 to 2014 time frame to ensure the safety and continued well-being of the boating and traveling public,” Joel advised Council in an Oct. 6 memo.

Having the engineer designs complete aids in receiving state and federal grants.

The favorite among residents was the design by Volkert and the total cost is about $9 million.

TBE and T.Y. Lin are the two firms suggested by Joel and staff. TBE’s bridge costs about $8.4 million and T.Y. Lin’s costs $7.5 million. TBE’s design was residents’ second choice and T.Y Lin’s was residents’ third favorite. T.Y. Lin’s design includes steel arches and has higher clearance under the bridge than TBE’s design.

In the Marco Eagle poll, which was not a scientific poll and had fewer participants than the city survey, most thought a new bridge was not needed

$9,000,000 For a 80 foot Bridge. Comments?