Update on Austin Avenue Bridges

The city staff recently provided an update to the City Council on the status of the Austin Avenue bridges. The complete presentation can be found here. Following are highlights.

The city will follow the National Environmental Policy Act requirements to assure that the bridges project is able to access federal funds.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires
•Overarching environmental regulation
•Evaluation of a range of alternatives
•Requires coordination with multiple Federal and State agencies

Steel samples from the existing bridges were taken and analyzed.

Consultant has reanalyzed the load rating of the controlling span using the new yield strength and recommends, determined in accordance with TxDOT procedures, the following:

•Axle 20,000 lbs(legal limit)
•Tandem axle 34,000 lbs(legal limit)
•Single Gross vehicle 69,000 lbs(legal limit)
•Combination vehicle 79,000 lbs(legal limit is 80,000)

This indicates that perhaps lower load limits need not be imposed on the existing bridges. The only question is the combination limit which is 1,000 lbs below the legal limit.

TxDOT is reviewing the report, and guidance is expected by the end of the year.

The staff and council reiterated their commitment to not close Austin Avenue, except for a few hours during the night, if necessary. 

The rough schedule of remaining tasks follows:

•Consider Public Meeting #3 (Mar 2017)
•Workshop with Council on Alternatives Analysis (June 2017)
•Submit Environmental Assessment to TxDOT (June/July 2017)
•Environmental Assessment review period (Aug 2017)
•Public Hearing (Oct 2017)

The staff also indicated they are running out of money with 50% of the planned work accomplished and 75% of the scheduled used. They are requesting approval to transfer $280,000 from the Streets Arterial Reserve Account.