History:  East Lake Street (Hennepin County CSAH 3)/Marshall Avenue (Ramsey County CSAH 35) crosses over the Mississippi River connecting Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood and St. Paul’s Merriam Park neighborhood.  With an estimated 19,000 vehicles crossing each day, the bridge is an important crossing of the Mississippi River connecting the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.  There currently exists a maintenance agreement between Ramsey County and Hennepin County (Hennepin County Agreement No. PW 07-74-94) establishing each parties’ continuing maintenance and routine repair responsibilities for the Lake Street Bridge as well as the Ford Bridge over the Mississippi River. Maintenance responsibilities and the cost thereof for the Lake Street Bridge are to be shared in accordance with the agreement, with Hennepin County being the lead agency.

The Lake Street Bridge, constructed in 1989, is a concrete open span arch with 2 main span lengths of 555 feet.  Since its construction various structural and aesthetic elements have deteriorated.  Hennepin County and Ramsey County have collaborated to identify needed repairs and develop a project to repair and seal the bridge deck surface, replace expansion joints, repair masonry veneer and install inspection safety equipment, with the parties equally sharing the costs.  Transportation Project Delivery Department staff will lead the project. The estimated construction and engineering cost for the project, including Hennepin County staff time, is $1,778,000.  Construction is scheduled to begin early summer 2017 with completion fall 2018.

Current Request: This request is for authorization to negotiate and execute Agreement PW 74-74-16 with Ramsey County identifying each party’s responsibilities. The proposed agreement stipulates Hennepin County will prepare the plans and specifications, receive and award a construction contract for the work, and administer the construction contract.  The total estimated contract construction cost for the project is $1,408,000.  Cost participation stipulated in the proposed agreement calls for Ramsey County to pay the county fifty percent of the actual contract construction costs, or an estimated $704,000.

Design and construction engineering for the project will be performed by Transportation Project Delivery staff.  The total estimated cost for engineering is $370,000.  Ramsey County will reimburse the county for fifty percent of the design and construction engineering costs for the project or an estimated $185,000.  Engineering fees from Ramsey County will be received as revenue in the Transportation Project Delivery operating budget.  Engineering costs expended by county staff will be financed within the existing Transportation Project Delivery operating budget.

To finance construction of the project it is requested that CP 2165900 be established as a project in the 2017 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with a project budget of $704,000 funded with $704,000 in anticipated funding from Ramsey County.  The county’s share of the construction costs, also estimated to be $704,000, will be funded by Wheelage Tax.

The cost participation for this project is in accordance with the county's approved Cost Participation Policy (Resolution 12-0058, adopted February 7, 2012).

Impact/Outcomes:  The Lake Street Bridge is a significant crossing of the Mississippi River and an important landmark. The suggested bridge maintenance and improvements will assure a usable, safe and attractive bridge for years to come.