A freighter approaches Liberty Bridge in Bay City, MI.
(Photo found at www.boatnerd.com)

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City Estimates $5.3 Million Cost of Shoring Up Bridges, Seeks Funding

Foundations of Liberty, Independence Bridges Inspected, Found "Unstable"

June 14, 2009
By: Dave Rogers

The City of Bay City has applied to the Local Bridge Program of the Michigan Department of Transportation for $5.3 million in funding to reinforce bridge foundations.

Bridges that have been inspected and found to be "scour critical" are the Independence and Liberty bridges.

The scour rating designates "a bridge with a foundation element that has been determined to be unstable for the observed or evaluated scour condition."

NBIS defines scour as "erosion of stream bed or bank material due to flowing water; often considered as being localized around piers and abutments of bridges."

According to a report to city commissioners by Manager Robert V. Belleman, the state agency notified the city a year ago about National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) Scour Evaluations and Plan of Action (POA) for Scour Critical Bridges.

Under these regulations, the bridge owner must "identify bridges that are scour critical," and, if so determined, must "prepare a plan of action (POA) to monitor known and potential deficiencies and to address critical findings."

The combined cost of necessary counter-measures is estimated at $5.3 million. Such measures are required in the event of 100 year and 500 year floods (floods likely to occur once in those periods of time.)

The manager wrote that "due to the unexpected magnitude of cost, the city staff is preparing a commission recommendation ratifying submission of two applications and a resolution. "MDOT has extended the deadline to June 30 to receive the commission resolution and continues to discuss funding alternatives with the city. ###