Spokane, Washington is going to replace the surface of the Maple Street Bridge, however there is no clear start date as of now.
Last week, the City Council approved a $4.7 million contract with Combined Construction of Mukilteo, Washington. Previously, city engineers had estimated it would cost $3.6 million. Luckily, federal funding will help cover most of the cost.
The goal of the project is to grind off the top three-quarters of an inch of the bridge's surface and replace it with fresh polyester concrete.
According to the public works department's spokeswoman, Kristin Davis, the deck rehabilitation should take approximately 50 days, weather depending.
In April, city officials had originally said the project would begin on August 1. Now, Spokane's website says that crews will begin work in September. However, documents provided to the City Council now say it could be postponed until next year.
According to Davis, Spokane Officials will finalize a start date next week.
Whenever construction begins, it could significantly impact commutes. All but two lanes — one northbound and one southbound — will be closed, and the entire bridge will shut down during a portion of the project.
The Maple Street Bridge is the second-busiest bridge that spans the Spokane River, behind only the Division Street Bridge. Vehicles cross the structure 45,000 times a day.
The Maple Street Bridge has a "poor" rating under the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory rating system, specifically because its deck is deteriorating.
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Source: Yahoo
