03-26-2012 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL Monday, March 12, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 7 (4. FOREST LAKE CHANNEL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, Continued) The plans have been submitted to State Aid Bridge and comments returned. As a result of their comments, two changes will be made to the plans. The plans have also been submitted to the Metro District and the Transportation Department is waiting to hear back from them on federal funding. In addition, the plans have been submitted to Orono City Staff for their review and comment. At this time there does not appear to be any serious concerns raised by Staff. Archer stated the plans are 95 percent complete and that March 31st is the deadline for plans to be submitted for federal funding. Archer indicated they anticipate the project will be substantially completed by October or early November of this year. At the public hearing a number of issues were raised concerning right-of-way, tree removal, noise, aesthetics treatments, and construction staging. The two main issues raised were the duration of channel closures, the number of closings, as well as aesthetic treatments. As it relates to channel closures, the engineer’s estimate assumes the contractor will need to work in the channel at different points during the project and that the channel will be unsafe for boat traffic, so a 16- day closure period has been scheduled. During those periods the channel will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., which will still allow for evening and weekend boat traffic. To accommodate boat traffic during the week of July 4, there will be no closures that week. Hennepin County also has a number of orange buoys that will be supplied to the contractor, who will be in charge of the channel closures. The Transportation Department will be monitoring the closures, which will avoid the need to have the Water Patrol involved. The details of the closures will be listed in a plan sheet and they are in the process of working on the plan details with the Water Patrol. Archer stated as it relates to the aesthetics of the structure, the bridge will have a special surface finish, which essentially will be a painted concrete surface. That special surface will be applied to the interior of the traffic barrier, the edge and bottom of the slab, and the pier cap and columns. There will also be an architectural surface finish on the exterior and columns of the bridge. In addition, the bridge will have an ornamental metal railing, road crossing imprint, and granite riprap along the shoreline. Archer displayed a picture of the existing bridge and then a colored rendering of the proposed bridge. Gaffron asked if the stone pattern will be stamped into the concrete. Archer indicated it would be and that the finish will be low maintenance. The Transportation Department is working with the Water Patrol and emergency response units. The Transportation Department does not anticipate any costs to the City for this project and the rest of the funding will be state aid dollars. The Orono City Council will have the opportunity to review and approve the plans later this evening. McMillan asked whether this bridge will be similar in color to Gray’s Bay. Archer indicated the coloring would be similar but that the style of the structure will be slightly different. McMillan asked whether the neighbors were able to see the depictions of the bridge. Item #02 - CC Agenda - 03/26/2012 Approval of Council Minutes 03/12/2012 [Page 2 of 7]