Aging bridges jostle walkers

Wooden decking on three large pedestrian bridges in Riverfront Park have been loosening with age, and park maintenance workers say there is little they can do to stop the planks from shimmying and shaking.

Left over from Expo ‘74, the three bridges were never intended for years of use.

While there is no danger of the decks dropping into the river, the planks constantly work loose, allowing them to jiggle enough to be disconcerting, to say the least, although the treads were recently snugged up with large screws.

Even so, the old planks are so rough and uneven that they have become tripping hazards and can deliver bone-jarring rides for tots in strollers and others using wheeled transport.

“It’s been 30 years after these were built, and wood doesn’t last under the elements,” said Tony Madunich, park operations manager.

Spokane Parks Department officials say it’s time to replace the decks, but their preferred option of using concrete decking, because of its lower cost, was recently ruled out after engineers inspected the bridges and found that their structures are insufficient for the weight.

One of the bridges is just east of the Carrousel. Another is located next to the INB Performing Arts Center, and the third bridge crosses the north channel of the river adjacent to Red Lion Hotel at the Park.

The deck beams are held to the bridges with screws fastened into wooden beams running lengthwise beneath the decks. Crews have used larger and larger screws as the beams have lost their capacity to hold fasteners, but now, even lag screws are failing, Madunich said. Crews have also replaced many of the 3-by-6-inch deck beams.

The parks department is likely going to have to give up on saving money with concrete and pay the extra money to replace the wood, Madunich said.

About $100,000 for the upgrade was set aside in a fund stemming from a 1999 voter-approved bond issue for park improvements citywide. The department’s capital spending plan for 2007 called for using that money on bridge decking this year, said Rebecca Madanay, the parks department’s finance manager.

Additional money could be drawn from a cumulative reserve fund, if needed, she said.

Two small bridges crossing a landscape “stream” near the YMCA were successfully repaired with sections of concrete deck years ago, which gave parks officials the idea of using concrete on the pedestrian bridges.

The bridges aren’t the only relics of Expo ‘74 that have caused maintenance issues. The Pavilion for years has needed extensive upgrading, and the old Boeing amphitheater at the east end of the park has been little more than a maintenance yard where fireworks are launched seasonally.

A draft master plan submitted a year ago called for the following:

“Constructing a larger building for the historic Looff Carrousel, which would have a café, event area, restrooms and ticket window.

“Developing city-owned property north of the river and east of the Spokane Arena with new recreation facilities such as a science center, ice skating rink and new IMAX theater. The property was purchased with money from the 1999 voter-approved funding.

“Renovating the existing Pavilion for more passive uses such as a performance amphitheater, while moving rides to the north bank.

“Straightening the Howard Street corridor to create a grand pedestrian walkway connecting a new north bank amusement area to downtown shops.

“Opening views to the river to give the park a more unified feel. Some of the existing landscape features date back more than 30 years when old rail yards were transformed into the site of Expo ‘74, the precursor to today’s Riverfront Park.