MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor Edward “Bud” Caulfield

                        And

                        Members of Lowell City Council

FROM:            Bernard F. Lynch, City Manager

DATE:             May 6, 2008

RE:                   CC Motion of 04.15.08 by C. Martin

“Request the City Manager provide an update on the University Avenue Bridge”

There are two components of the University Avenue Bridge project, the new bridge design and the existing bridge repairs.

NEW UNIVERSITY AVE BRIDGE-DESIGN UPDATE

According to Mike O’Dowd, Mass Highway Project Manager: MHD has directed the designer to proceed with the final design of the bridge replacement based upon the consensus of the stakeholders at the design public hearing.  Mike does not anticipate seeing a 75% submission until later this summer.  They are still proceeding on the basis of completing the design for Fiscal Year 2010.

NEW UNIVERSITY AVE BRIDGE-RIGHT OF WAY UPDATE

The Division of Planning & Development received needed copies of the Right of Way (ROW) plans on April 18, 2008 provided by Mass Highway.  Anne Barton and Jeff Gomes will initiate the process for acquiring all right of way needs for the bridge construction, both temporary and permanent.  All efforts will be made to keep the project on schedule and to coincide with MHD’s project timeline for bidding the construction of the new bridge.  The City Council will be asked to take the necessary votes as we move forward with ROW acquisitions.

EXISTING UNIVERSITY AVE BRIDGE-REPAIRS

Last August, based on a preliminary inspection, Ammann & Whitney created a preliminary design and construction estimate.  After the State report was issued, and as the repair designs progressed, it became apparent that additional work was required.  The additional work has increased the current estimate to $400,000.

Given the current scope of work, it may not be feasible from both a fiscal and scheduling stand point, to allow the bridge to be open during repairs.  The complete closing of the bridge for the duration of repairs should allow for the project to be completed in three months.

Ammann & Whitney is preparing the 100% design plans and the contract as well as the bidding documents.  These should be complete within a month.  At that time we will have a better idea of the schedule.

Please contact me with any further questions regarding this information.  Thank you.