FORKS ROAD BRIDGE

DECEMBER 11, 2018

PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL
INFORMATION UPDATE
CHRIS ANDERS, MANAGER OF ENGINEERING
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PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Timeline of Events

Existing Bridge

2016 Vs. 2018

Moving Forward

Option 1 – Replacement

Option 2 – Demolition

Asset Management Plan Strategies

Next Steps

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS

1930 Bridge constructed

1930 to 1997 various maintenance work completed

2000 bridge downloaded to City of Welland

2000 to 2008 bridge inspected every two years

2010 Load Capacity Evaluation (LCE) Completed and
Rehabilitation/Replacement Analysis. Replacement by 2020
recommended

2011 East expansion joint re-installed

2016 Emergency repairs completed

2018 Up close inspection

November 2, 2018 bridge closed Indefinitely

December 11, 2018 public open house and presentation to Council

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Existing Piers and abutments below the canal bottom

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CURRENT CONDITION

2016 emergency repairs were completed and a load
restriction was placed on the bridge.

August 2018 up close inspection completed. Corrosion of
steel is significantly worse than in 2016. Occurring at a
much faster rate than anticipated.

Numerous and larger perforations in the primary members
of the structural steelwork.

See examples in following slides

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FORKS ROAD BRIDGE 2016 Vs 2018
2016: west tower span, north truss bottom cord
L0L1 (prior to repair)

2016: west tower span, north truss bottom cord

L0L1 (after repair)

2018: west tower span, north truss bottom cord

L0L1

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FORKS ROAD BRIDGE 2016 Vs 2018
2016: west tower span, south truss bottom cord
L4L5 (prior to repair)

2016: west tower span, south truss bottom cord

L4L5 (after repair)

2018: west tower span, south truss bottom cord

L4L5

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FORKS ROAD BRIDGE 2016 Vs 2018

2016: diagonal member west

tower span, south side

2018: diagonal member west

tower span, south side

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Current Condition

Due to the accelerated corrosion and the effects of
winter operations, the bridge was closed on
November 2, 2018.

Pedestrian access will be closed before Christmas.

Detour route in place.

Within 12 to 16 months the bridge will no longer be
able to support itself.

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Two Options to Consider

Bridge replacement

Demolition of the existing structure
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Existing Piers and abutments below the canal bottom

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Moving Forward – Option 1 Replacement

A lifecycle analysis was performed in 2010. The analysis
concluded that it would be a more expensive over the lifecycle of
the bridge to rehabilitate it than to replace it.

There are too many unknowns that may arise during the
rehabilitation that will increase costs.

Cannot predict how long the rehabilitated structure would last or

what maintenance would be required.

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Moving Forward – Option 1 Replacement

In 2016 a study was done to examine various bridge
replacement options and associated costs
(presented on the next slides)

Other considerations:

New Pedestrian Only Bridge - $8.0M

Remove bridge structure, and cut/cap the piers - $4.5M

Remove bridge structure only - $2.5M

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 13.79m Wide Truss/Box Girder Using Existing Piers
Using Ex. Piers
$15.1 M
24 Months

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13.79m Concrete Box Girder
Using Ex. Piers
$15.2 M
24 Months
New/Rehab Piers
$20.4M
30 Months

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9.3m Pre-
Pre-Fab Panel Using Existing Piers
Using Ex. Piers
$12.1M
18 Months
(50 Year Lifespan)
(No bikelanes)

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13.79m Slab on Steel Girder Using Existing Piers
Using Ex. Piers
$12.9M
24 Months

RECOMMENDED DESIGN

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Accelerated Construction (Bridge Slide)
4 Month Road Closure
$18.9M

With Temporary Bridge

Add $6.1M

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Moving Forward – Option 2 Demolition

The existing structure would be removed and the
piers would be cut and capped.

Motorists would have to use the detour route on a
permanent basis.

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Moving Forward – Option 2 Demolition

$4.5 Million cost to remove the bridge structure and cut/cap
the concrete piers.

Impact to approximately 1000 residential and 6 commercial
properties.

Additional 6.5km, 7 minutes for drivers heading southbound to
Port Colborne via Hwy 58.

No change for current emergency response.

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Southbound
Detour Route

Hwy 58 South to
Port Colborne
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 Secondary
Emergency Response Primary Emergency
Emergency Access
• Currently using Canal Access
Bank Road (only)

• WFES Controls train

tracks to ensure clear
passage

• Secondary EMERGENCY
ONLY access is available
through Seaway Land.
- Points of access:
Humberstone Rd
Forks Rd
Kingsway

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Asset Management Plan Strategies

Asset Management Plan has identified the
“Infrastructure Funding Gap” to be approximately
$20 Million annually.

Decision making should be reflective of this
concern.

Strategies were developed in the AMP as follows:

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Asset Management Plan Strategies (2016 AMP)
1. Applying rehabilitation techniques to extend the lifespan
of assets; Already done. Lifecycle analysis does not
recommend rehabilitation.
2. Rate increases, where needed (i.e. taxation, user fees,
parking); For Council’s consideration.
3. Actively seeking out and applying for grants; Will do;
however, not a guaranteed funding source.
4. Decreasing expected levels of service; For Council’s
consideration.

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Asset Management Plan Strategies, continued…
4. Divestment of facilities, parks, or other non-critical
infrastructure where it is practical and appropriate to do so;
For Council’s consideration.
5. Issuing debt for significant and/or unforeseen capital projects,
in addition to the debt recommended in the AMP, while
staying within the City’s debt capacity limits (this would have
the impact of spreading out the capital repayment over a
defined term); For Council’s consideration.
6. Implementing operating efficiencies (i.e. reduced operating
costs to allow more capital investment). Not applicable
specifically to this asset.

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Next Steps/Considerations

Council decision on replacement vs. demolition.

If replacement is selected, Staff recommend beginning
immediately with detailed design and additional investigation
on piers. Bringing the project to a “Shovel-Ready” state will
allow better access to upper-tier funding.

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DECEMBER 11, 2018

PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL
THE END – QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT

1928 - Designed

1930 - Constructed (87 yrs old)

1951 - Bridge painted

1960 - “Haydite” concrete deck
installed

1962 - Paving/sealing of bridge
deck

1965 - Bridge painted

1965 - Miscellaneous steel repairs replaced, concrete bridge deck
to truss

1973 - Bridge decommissioned

1977 - Deck rehab and removal of
counterweights
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1984 - Lift span/east tower span
deck replacement

1986 - West tower span deck
replaced

1988 - Bridge painted (towers not
painted)

1989 - Reinforcement of bottom
chords

1990 - Sidewalk repairs

1997 - Towers removed, sidewalks
made continuous over east pier

2011 - East Expansion Joint re-
instated

2016 - Emergency Repairs