HomeMy WebLinkAbout30. 22-276REVISED
JUNE 14, 2022 JUNE 28, 2022 22-248 22-276 RESOLUTION
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PURPOSE: PROVIDE RECOMMENDATION TO WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION FOR JACKSON/OREGON STREET
BRIDGE DESIGN
INITIATED BY: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
RECOMMENDATIONS
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE: Fixed Bridge Reconstruction
SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD: Fixed Bridge Reconstruction
PLAN COMMISSION: Fixed Bridge Reconstruction
TRAFFIC & PARKING ADVISORY BOARD: Fixed Bridge Reconstruction
WHEREAS, the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge was constructed in 1956 and is
planned for rehabilitation or reconstruction by the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation (WDOT) in 2028; and
WHEREAS, WDOT has requested that the City Council review and provide a
recommendation related to the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge Design recognizing that the
City of Oshkosh will be responsible for any costs related to designs that incur costs above
the lowest-cost reconstruction alternative and for any costs related to additional work
that the City may desire, and will become responsible for operation and maintenance
upon bridge reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, WDOT after receiving input from City staff and the community,
presented the following options:
Alternative A: No Build/Do Nothing
Alternative B: Rehabilitation
Alternative C1: High Level Fixed Span (Marion Road)
Alternative C3: High Level Fixed Span (Marion Road, City Center Access)
Alternative E: On-Alignment, Raised Clearance
JUNE 14, 2022 JUNE 28, 2022 22-248 22-276 RESOLUTION
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Alternative F: On-Alignment, Raised Clearance with Both Riverwalks
Underneath Bridge
Alternative J1: Off-Alignment to the West, Raised Clearance with Both
Riverwalks Underneath Bridge (Marion Road)
Alternative J2: Off-Alignment to the West, Raised Clearance with Both
Riverwalks Underneath Bridge (Cul-de-sac)
Alternative M1: High Level Fixed Partial Offset (Marion Road)
Alternative M2: High Level Fixed Partial Offset (Marion Road, City Center
Access)
WHEREAS, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee recommends Fixed Bridge
Reconstruction C3 with modification to eliminate the direct driveway connection to
Jackson Street; and
WHEREAS, the Sustainability Advisory Board recommends Fixed Bridge
Reconstruction Alternative C1; and
WHEREAS, the Plan Commission recommends Fixed Bridge Reconstruction
similar to Alternatives C1 and C3 with driveway connection only to Division Street
(eliminate cul-de-sac); and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Review Advisory Board recommends Fixed Bridge
Reconstruction C3 maintaining a driveway connection from City Center to Jackson Street;
and
WHEREAS, at its June 14, 2022 meeting the Common Council directed staff to
work further with the direct neighbors to this site and whereas as a result of those
meetings staff now recommends Alternative M2 with a driveway connection only to
Division Street.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of
Oshkosh that the City of Oshkosh recommends to the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation an alternative for a Fixed Bridge Reconstruction similar to Alternatives
M2 with driveway connection only to Division Street for the Jackson/Oregon Street
Bridge Design scheduled for 2028.
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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: James Rabe, Director of Public Works
DATE: June 23, 2022
RE: Provide Recommendation to Wisconsin Department of Transportation
for Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge Design
BACKGROUND
On June 29, 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) met with the
City Manager and myself to discuss restarting the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge design
process. The existing bridge was constructed in 1956 and is nearing the end of its service
life. WDOT began an environmental study in 2015 that investigated a wide range of
improvement alternatives for the bridge. There were a total of six (6) Local Official,
Stakeholder Advisory, and Public Involvement meetings conducted in 2016. At their
May 9, 2017 meeting, the Common Council voted 4 – 3 in support of a full bridge
replacement with an on-alignment lift bridge. There was significant debate among
Council members and the majority felt there was no clear choice. The City of Oshkosh
(City) also expressed strong concerns about accepting bridge ownership after
replacement.
In late 2017, WDOT made the decision to delay the construction start until Summer 2028.
WDOT also suspended the environmental study with an intent to resume that effort in
Spring 2021.
Members of the WDOT consultant design team accompanied WDOT Northeast Region
bridge maintenance engineers in April 2021 to complete an updated bridge inspection
and confirmed that a Summer 2028 construction start was appropriate, based on the
overall bridge condition. Based on those findings, WDOT resumed the environmental
study in 2021. WDOT again conducted Stakeholder Advisory, Local Official, and Public
Involvement meetings in late 2021 and early 2022. Improvement alternatives were re-
evaluated and additional options developed based on the results of those meetings.
At their June 14, 2022 meeting, the Common Council directed staff to meet with adjacent
property owners further to discuss potential additional options to present to the Common
Council at the June 28th meeting.
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ANALYSIS
There are several alternatives shown in the most recent WDOT presentations regarding
this Project. Attached to this item is a copy of the presentation from the March 22, 2022
Common Council Workshop presented by WDOT. The workshop can be viewed on the
Oshkosh Media YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8uC7p77UH0).
These numerous options really boil down to three (3) basic options: rehabilitation, fixed
bridge reconstruction, and lift bridge reconstruction. There are various on-alignment or
off-alignment configurations for the reconstruction alternatives, as well as various
options regarding Division Street.
The rehabilitation option would extend the life of the bridge approximately 25 years. The
reconstruction options would provide a bridge with an anticipated service life of
approximately 75 years. The Main Street Bridge was constructed in 1973 and the
Oshkosh/Congress Avenue Bridge was constructed in 1982. Delaying the reconstruction
of the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge with the rehabilitation option would ultimately place
the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge reconstruction on a virtually-identical timeframe as the
Main Street Bridge.
Public Works met with owners of the City Center to review the alternatives presented.
There was a very good discussion regarding the various options, and potential alterations
to those options. Staff recognize that the City Center owners prefer the rehabilitation
option, while the City Center owners recognize that a fixed bridge option is likely to be
selected. Based upon those recognitions, the representatives from the City Center felt
that Alternative M2, with some alterations would be preferable to them if a fixed bridge
is going to be constructed. The alterations included removing the Jackson Street access
from the site, and swinging the parking ramp entrance and entrance to the southern
parking lot near Beckett’s to access off Division Street. This allows more parking to
remain in the southern parking lot, while opening up site visibility to southbound
Jackson Street traffic. There is also a preference to center Jackson Street in the existing
right-of-way so that the location of the street favors neither the east nor the west property
owners. Centering the street also would allow for turn lanes to be developed at the
realigned intersection of Jackson Street, Division Street, and Marion Road.
FISCAL IMPACT
Should the rehabilitation option for the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge be selected for
implementation, there would be no fiscal impact to the City. The construction costs of
the rehabilitation would be the responsibility of the WDOT. The bridge would remain
under WDOT ownership and WDOT would continue to be responsible for the operation
and maintenance costs of the rehabilitated bridge.
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In the event a reconstruction alternative is selected for implementation, the WDOT would
provide the construction funding for the lowest-cost reconstruction alternative. That
lowest-cost reconstruction alternative is the fixed bridge. The City would be responsible
for the additional cost differential between the fixed bridge and a lift bridge.
Should a fixed bridge reconstruction option for the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge be
selected for implementation, there would be no fiscal impact to the City for the
reconstruction, unless the City would desire to add additional aesthetic features to the
bridge or add additional work outside the bridge reconstruction. There would be a long-
term fiscal impact to the City, since the City would become the owner of the bridge and
be responsible for operation and maintenance costs. The operation and maintenance
costs for the fixed bridge would be considerably less than for a lift bridge.
Should a lift bridge reconstruction option for the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge be
selected for implementation, there would be a significant fiscal impact to the City for the
reconstruction. The cost differential for the lift bridge is currently estimated to be $25-30
million plus any additional aesthetic features or additional work outside the bridge
reconstruction the City would seek to add. There would also be a long-term fiscal impact
to the City, since the City would become the owner of the bridge and be responsible for
operation and maintenance costs. The operation and maintenance costs for the lift bridge
would be considerably more than for a fixed bridge.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Several City Boards and Commissions have received presentations from City staff
replicating the presentation given by WDOT to the Common Council in March 2022.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee recommends a fixed bridge
reconstruction while eliminating or limiting access from the bridge to adjacent parcels.
These access points cause confusion for drivers and other users of the right-of-way and
create conflict points that should be eliminated wherever possible.
The Sustainability Advisory Board recommends a fixed bridge reconstruction. The
construction of a fixed bridge versus a lift bridge reduces the overall environmental
impacts from the bridge because there are no electrical or mechanical parts utilized in the
operations, while also reducing the amount of time that vehicles are sitting with their
engines idling.
The Plan Commission recommends a fixed bridge reconstruction with no access directly
to Jackson Street, which provides continuous access to the Riverwalk.
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The Traffic and Parking Advisory Board recommends a fixed bridge reconstruction,
Alternative C3, which maintains the driveway connection to Jackson Street.
Staff from several City Departments have reviewed the various alternatives and
collectively recommend a fixed bridge reconstruction, in particular Alternative M2, with
the driveway connection to Division Street rather than to Jackson Street. Emergency
Services (Police and Fire Departments) recommend a fixed bridge alternative for the
increased access that having a bridge that will always be open to vehicular traffic will
provide. This increased access will help to reduce overall response times. Public Works
recommends a fixed bridge alternative for the lower overall construction costs and lower
operation and maintenance costs that would need to be absorbed into the Department’s
budget. The Transportation Department recommends a fixed bridge as it will improve
transportation safety for all users by reducing conflict points between pedestrians,
bicyclists, and motor vehicles.
I recommend approval of this resolution with a City of Oshkosh recommendation to the
WDOT for the off-alignment fixed-bridge reconstruction Alternative M2 with the
driveway connection to Division Street rather than to Jackson Street.
Approved,
Mark Rohloff
City Manager
JER/tlt
Oregon/Jackson Street Bridge
March 22, 2022
City Council Workshop
Project location
Oregon/Jackson Street Bridge
City of Oshkosh
Fox River, Winnebago County
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Project Background/History
The existing bridge was constructed in 1956 and is nearing
the end of its service life. While the bridge is still safe for all
travel, a recent investigation of the bridge (April 2021) has
confirmed a number of issues that need to be addressed.
After suspending the study in 2017, the study has resumed
and WisDOT is investigating a wide range of
improvement alternatives.
Construction is tentatively scheduled for 2028.
Past meetings held
•Public Involvement Meetings
•April 2016
•October 2016
•Local Officials Meetings
•April 2016
•September 2016
•Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meetings
•March 2016
•September 2016
•October 2021
Alternative A: No Build/Do Nothing
Alternative B
Rehabilitation
Alternative C1
High Level
Fixed Span
(Marion Road)
Alternative C3
High Level
Fixed Span
(Marion Road,
City Center
Access)
Alternative E
On-Alignment,
Raised
Clearance
Alternative F
On-Alignment,
Raised Clearance
with Both
Riverwalks
Underneath Bridge
Alternative J1
Off-Alignment to the
West, Raised
Clearance with Both
Riverwalks
Underneath Bridge
(Marion Road)
Alternative J2
Off-Alignment to the
West, Raised
Clearance with Both
Riverwalks
Underneath Bridge
(Cul-de-sac)
Alternative M1
High Level Fixed
Partial Offset
(Marion Road)
Alternative M2:
High Level Fixed
Partial Offset
(Marion Road,
City Center
Access)
Active/Remaining Alternatives
Funding considerations
•State will fund rehabilitation or lowest cost replacement structure
•Replacement will trigger jurisdictional transfer from State to City
•City will assume operation and maintenance costs of a new structure
Schedule Next Steps
•City Council Workshop: March 22, 2022
•Public Involvement Meeting: April 4, 2022
Questions?
Thank you!
Please contact us with any questions or comments!
Bill Bertrand, PE
WisDOT Project Manager
(920) 360-3124
William.Bertrand@dot.wi.gov
Mark Kantola
WisDOT Communications Manager
(920) 492-4153
Mark.Kantola@dot.wi.gov
For more information, please visit our website at:
wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/ne/oshkoshbr/default.aspx