Troost Bridge at Brush Creek: The City was surprised recently when it reviewed bids for construction of the Troost Bridge at Brush Creek – all the bids were roughly twice the expected $19 million.
Discussions with contractors quickly revealed two major causes: the cost of steel had quadrupled recently, and the City had not anticipated the high cost of working in the channel (contractors must provide for work loss in the event of flooding). To figure a response, a workshop was held October 29 to ask stakeholders about what to cut. The group underscored the importance of long-standing priorities: pedestrian, bicycle and wheelchair access to be maintained in an east-west path; the intersection at Troost and Volker to be improved; and water maintained in the channel year-round. To gain savings, compromises include elimination of walkways below street level (reduced the need for work on retaining walls), sidewalks on the bridge deck scaled down (but still generous for pedestrian viewing); and one pedestrian bridge eliminated. These changes allow the city to resubmit the project for bids, and still keep the project on target for construction in Spring 2009, with completion a year later.
Bus Rapid Transit/MAX: Southtown serves as a member of the ATA’s Troost MAX Advisory Committee. The planned route runs downtown, then follows Troost from 27th St. to Bannister/95th. The group’s most recent meeting focused on translating “lessons learned” from the initial MAX line into modifications along Troost. The group is working on design standards, changes in streetscaping, and placement of fixtures such as trash containers. The group’s work continues as the Troost MAX line nears its “opening” in the Spring of 2010 – right in time for the opening of the Troost Bridge!