Town of Bristol
Board of Selectmen
Minutes of 8-28-07
Meeting with Town of Hill & NHDOT
On Site inspection of Borough Road Bridge
Members Present: Steve Favorite (SF), Paul Fraser (PF), Joe Denning (JD)
Others Present-
Town Manager Elizabeth Corrow, Police Chief John Clark, Highway Manager-Mark Bucklin
Selectboard members from the Town of Hill present-Steve Farris
NHDOT Members present: David Powelson-Chief Existing Bridge Section Bureau of Design, Dean Bennett-Chief Bridge Inspector Bureau of Bridge Design, Timothy Boodey-Design Engineer Bureau of Bridge Maintenance, Nancy Mayville-Municipal Highway Engineer
Members Absent: Rick Alpers (RA), Bruce Van Derven (BVD)
Ms. Corrow opened the meeting stating that the Bristol Selectboard has asked for a review of the condition of the Borough road bridge as they have concerns about its safety.
Ms. Mayville stated that NHDOT has additional money in 2008 for bridges on the red list and this bridge is being moved forward in terms of when funding would be available. We are already approximately 50% done with design and this bridge is a good bridge to get done sooner. A possible time line was reviewed.
Ms. Corrow stated that she had concern with cash flow for the Town of Bristol as the invoices for the project must be paid first and then NHDOT will reimburse us.
Ms. Mayville stated that once the contract is awarded we can be reimbursed for 80% of the engineering work we have already completed. She also stated that will also receive 40% of the project amount once we get started with construction and the other 40% when the bridge is finished.
Ms. Mayville also discussed the possibility of going out to bid later this winter and beginning construction once the town’s funds were appropriated at March town meeting. Ms. Mayville then asked Mr. Powelson and Mr. Bennett to conduct an onsite inspection today and report back the condition to the group.
Mr. Powelson reported back to the group that he is recommending immediate closure of the bridge. He further stated that the bridge has greatly deteriorated since their last inspection. The concrete has lost a great deal of its strength. He stated that the next heavy rain could cause real problems and he wouldn’t want to risk you or your neighbors.
The group discussed the mechanics of closing the bridge and proper notification of area residents and the Franklin school district. Hill has children on Borough Road that are bused across this bridge and the first day of school for them is tomorrow.
Ms. Corrow requested that Mr. Bucklin go back to the highway garage and the state shed to see what kind of signs we can come up with and put up temp barriers this evening. In the morning the Hill Highway Manager would meet on site with Mr. Bucklin and discuss how to move the Jersey (concrete) barriers in place to more permanently close the bridge until the arrival of the temporary bridge being installed by NHDOT. Ms. Corrow requested Chief Clark coordinate notification of residents on the Bristol side through the Police dept. The Hill Selectboard coordinated notification on the Hill side of the bridge.
NHDOT representatives indicated it would take about 4-6 weeks-worst case scenario to get a temporary bridge (Bailey Bridge) in place. The cost is approximately $35,000 to put it up and $10,000 to take it down. The Bridge aid program would reimburse the towns 80% of the cost and so each town would be responsible for 10% each.
The group discussed possible construction in the spring and an estimated time from beginning to end of the project as 9 months for a single span steel beam construction.
The meeting ended at 2:30 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Corrow
Town Manager
Town of Bristol
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Steve Favorite
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Paul Fraser
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Joe Denning