PORT ANGELES — The long process has begun to reconfigure the Eighth Street bridges from a steel design to a prestressed one to save millions of dollars.
The City Council approved a $622,500 contract last week for Exeltech Consulting of Olympia to redesign the project, which could go to bid in January.
The proposed schedule calls for the redesign to be completed within seven months so that the project to replace the aging trestle-like spans over Valley and Tumwater creeks can be bid again.
Engineering fees for construction management will be negotiated after project is redesigned and put out to bid.
The redesigned bridges will consist of concrete spans with five or six concrete piers into each creek ravine.
The prestressed concrete bridge succeeds plans for more modern-looking, slant-leg steel bridges that would cost more than $5 million above the $20 million cost ceiling for the project.