Bridge May Get Close Look City Considers Contract To Study Monroe Span

The Monroe Street Bridge likely will go under the knife soon for some exploratory surgery.

Tonight, Spokane City Council members will consider a $395,000 contract with a Portland-based engineering firm to study the historic bridge’s condition.

The study by David Evans and Associates Inc. could begin this week if the contract is approved, said Dale Arnold, the city’s director of environmental programs.

Engineers would begin drilling deep into the bridge to determine the condition of the reinforced concrete and steel, Arnold said. The four lanes of traffic on the bridge may be cut back to three or fewer lanes during part of the work.

Engineers hope to determine the options for fixing the bridge, as well as the cost, Arnold said. If the study finds significant problems, there may be a need for a “phase two” study, which would increase the contract’s cost.

The study comes more than five months after the council asked City Manager Bill Pupo to take an in-depth look at what’s wrong with the bridge.

Council members want to know how much repairs of the bridge will cost before any more work is done on the Lincoln Street bridge project.

Pupo blamed the delay on the extensive process to determine the scope of the Monroe Street Bridge study and how to pay for it.

Federal taxpayer dollars will cover $300,000 of the cost, while the balance will be paid with state gas-tax money.

The study should be completed by the end of August, Arnold said.

A briefing for the council will begin at 3:30 p.m. today in the lower-level conference room of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The council meeting will start at 6 p.m.

What’s at stake If the City Council agrees tonight to a contract to study the condition of the Monroe Street Bridge, work could begin this week. During the work, lane restrictions may cause traffic delays.