A lot of people want to save the North Aberdeen Bridge because of its relation to the grunge rock icon Kurt Cobain, who was born and mostly raised in Aberdeen. But as time goes by it seems less and less likely the bridge will be saved.
The main problem with the bridge is the concern with safety. The bridge needs a lot of work.
The city has gone through an extensive outreach full of open houses and other public meetings. On Thursday last week, the city held its fourth stakeholder outreach group meeting regarding the bridge, which is also known as the Young Street Bridge. It was there the subtotaled cost estimates were revealed.
The question is whether two of the three options — 2A and 2B — are possible (see below). There’s close to an $8 million gap between 2B, and 3C. Many residents want to see option 2B come to fruition.
The options as of now are the following:
2A (subtotal cost estimate of $28 million)
Build new bridge next to existing Young Street Bridge for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles
Rehabilitate the southern portion of existing bridge and leave it in place. The city will evaluate if this section can be used as a viewing platform.
Remove the northern portion of the existing bridge
2B (subtotal cost estimate of $30 million)
Build a new bridge next to the existing Young Street Bridge for vehicles
Rehabilitate the existing bridge for pedestrian and bicyclist use only
3C (subtotal cost estimate of $22 million)
Build a new bridge in the same location as existing bridge for vehicles, pedestrians and bikes
Remove the existing bridge and repurpose parts of the bridge in Kurt Cobain Memorial Park
Temporary bridge is not required — build new bridge in two stages. In the first stage, build a shared use path section for pedestrians and bikes, and use for temporary bridge (this avoids separate temporary bridge
3C also includes “evaluate opportunities to salvage and repurpose bridge elements,” including re-purposing the pier cap and the south abutment into “park features.” The option also includes reassembling the southern portion of the bridge in Kurt Cobain Memorial Park.
Randy Beerbower, a member of the Stakeholder Outreach Group, which is a group of residents, city staff, school officials, police and fire, and others, wants to see option 2B because he wants to save the bridge in its entirety. He said that option was the “overwhelming choice” — more popular than 2A.
“The difference between option 2A and 2B was about $1.5 million, so most of us felt 2A wasn’t a good option” Beerbower said. “2A basically removed the bulk of the bridge and there was very little cost savings.”
Beerbower didn’t sound like he’s convinced the estimates — which show all of the major steps — provide what the true cost will be for any of the three options.
“I do think that when creating cost estimates for this type of large project that they tend to pad everything,” Beerbower said. “It is possible that we could bring those costs down. Unfortunately the city needs to move ahead with a single option so they can prepare a bid package for potential contractors. I am not sure if it is possible to discuss option 2B with potential contractors in advance of the formal bidding process to get a better idea if the estimates are accurate.”
The problem with 2B — assuming the provided estimates are correct — is it’s also the most costly.
Beerbower wondered about potentially missing funding opportunities at the state and federal levels since the Stakeholder Outreach Group process started.
Even as late June and early July gets closer — the time frame for when the chosen alternative will receive a vote — Beerbower remains undeterred.
“I try to look at the positive side of things,” Beerbower said. “I still have not given up on option 2B, but missing those (potential opportunties) will certainly make it more difficult.”
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
