Winship Bridge Replacement Project

Status | Active
Project questions | Contact Richard Simonitch, Public Works Director/Town Engineer, at  publicworks@townofross.org

Project description

Background
Every two years Caltrans performs inspections of Ross’s six bridges and prepares a Bridge Inspection Report (BIR) for each
bridge. The purpose of the inspections are to inventory the bridges and examine and assess the physical and functional condition, in addition to the adequacy of the current conditions of the bridges. Winship Bridge has had a Sufficiency Rating of just over 50 (out of 100 in the latest Structure Inventory and Appraisal Report), and a status of “Functionally Obsolete” (due to its substandard deck geometry) since at least 2007.

The Town contracted with California Infrastructure Consultancy (CIC) in May 2012 to prepare a report to identify preliminary engineering/design assessments for repairs, maintenance, and/or rehabilitation of five bridges (Glenwood Avenue, Norwood Avenue, Shady Lane, Winship Avenue, and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard). The CIC report, with input from Caltrans, concluded that the Winship Avenue bridge’s current structural conditions were too significant to be handled under the preventative maintenance program, and that replacement rather than rehabilitation was determined for the bridge based on the following factors:

  • Poor structural condition (the bridge is more than 100 years old and is beyond the expected service life of 75 years) and the bridge could be at risk of collapse or failure if there is a significant seismic or flood event;
  • Will not pass the design flood event (100 year flow);
  • Identified by Caltrans as Functionally Obsolete;
  • Does not meet current design standards for ADA requirements for pedestrian pathway;
  • Is on the Marin County Flood Control priority list for replacement;
  • Widening an earth-filled arch bridge wouldn’t be possible at this location due to the opening required within the flood way.

Next Steps
Public meetings were held on February 9, 2016 and October 24, 2016  to provide an update and to elicit input from the Council and the public regarding a proposed alternative bridge alignment for the Winship Avenue Bridge Replacement Project. On May 11, 2017 the Town of Ross passed Resolution 2006 approving a proposed alignment, and directed Town staff and the bridge consultants to complete the environmental studies. On January 3, 2020 the Draft IS/MND was completed and on March 12, 2020, Town Council approved Resolution No. 2147 adopting the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (Final IS/MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), approving the Winship Avenue Bridge Replacement Project as described in the Final IS/MND, and authorizing the project plans, specifications, and estimates to proceed to the 80% design level for future use by the Town Counsel to seek bids from and select a construction contractor.

Another public hearing will be held later at the 80% design level to finalize certain architectural details such as bridge rail and electrolier styles, concrete tinting, memorial plaques, etc. and authorize staff to advertise for public bid for construction.