Background:
History: The Fremont Avenue Bridge over the Midtown Corridor in south Minneapolis was built in 1912-1913. Studies indicate that this bridge is in an advanced state of deterioration with a sufficiency rating of 27.4 (according to Federal Highway Administration guidelines, a bridge is eligible for replacement funding if the sufficiency rating is less than 50) and is likely not a candidate for rehabilitation. Given its structural condition, the bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic by the City of Minneapolis.
Hennepin County applied for a grant from the Minnesota State Transportation Fund for construction of Bridge Number 27J72 and the Commissioner of Transportation has given notice that funding for this bridge is available. The amount of the grant has been determined to be $661,525 by reason of the lowest responsible bid.
In 2017, the Hennepin County Board approved a number of actions in the replacement of the Fremont Avenue Bridge (Resolution 17-0339):
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Amended the 2017 Hennepin County Prioritized Bridge Improvement List to include the Fremont Avenue Bridge (CP 1005783) replacement project, proposed for 2019 construction;
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Entered into cost participation agreements with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) (A165855) and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (A177733);
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Requested additional financial assistance in the form of state bridge bond funds from MnDOT with eligible approach grading and engineering costs for the bridge as provided by law;
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Identified the Fremont Avenue Bridge (CP 1005783, State Project 027-596-011) replacement as a project in the 2017 Capital Budget with a project budget of $4,600,000
Separately, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority entered into Agreement A165856 with the City of Minneapolis for cost participation in the replacement of the Fremont Avenue Bridge (CP 1004767) (Resolution 17-HCRRA-0038).
MnDOT has subsequently approved the county’s additional financial assistance request with $661,525 in state bridge bond grant funds for certain eligible items.
Current Request: Authorization to negotiate Agreement PW 29-40-19 with MnDOT to accept $661,525 in state bridge bond grant funds for the reconstruction of the Fremont Avenue Bridge over the Midtown Corridor in south Minneapolis for the period June 15, 2019 through December 31, 2020 and authorization to add a supplemental appropriation of $661,525 to the Fremont Avenue Bridge (CP 1005783) replacement project.
Impact/Outcomes: Accepting these funds will lower the amount of funding needed from the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and the City of Minneapolis.