The Meeker Street bridge across the Green River in Kent will get a new coat of paint and repaved road in the summer of 2024 to help keep the structure in shape for years to come.
The city of Kent is expected to advertise for bids early in the year for the estimated $4.5 million to $5 million project for repainting of the bridge, minor bridge repairs and repaving of the roadway deck, according to city Public Works officials.
Drivers will face temporary detours when the major work is underway.
“We plan to be under construction this summer and finished in late fall,” said Chad Bieren, city Public Works director, in a Dec. 26 email. “We will need to close the road completely while the main portions of the painting and deck rehabilitation are completed this summer.”
A full bridge closure for the painting and deck repair will occur for about an eight-week period during the summer construction season, according to the city’s website.
“More information on timing will be released as the work progresses this spring,” Bieren said. “Detour routes will be established to provide access to businesses and residences.”
The bridge provides a major access point to Kent from the Kent Des Moines Road, aka State Route 516, to West Meeker Street. The city’s Riverbend Golf Complex and the large Ethos Apartments sit just east of the bridge. It is a popular commuting route. Just west of the bridge, the average daily traffic count is 18,900 vehicles with 4% truck traffic, according to city documents.
The need for paint is obvious with rust spots clearly showing corrosion. The bridge was built in 1958.
The City Council in January 2023 approved a $352,519 consultant agreement with Bellevue-based TranTech Engineering to develop design plans, specifications and cost estimates for the bridge repainting and deck resurfacing work, according to city documents.
The company will perform structural and loading analysis; design of paint containment and work platforms for the bridge; lead paint analysis and remediation design; design of structural steel spot repairs; and deck pavement design.
Once the plans are finalized, the city will put the project out to bid and TranTech will provide bid support services, according to city documents.
Federal grants will cover most of the costs.
“We have two federal grants that will cover $4.2 million of the project cost,” Bieren said. “One grant is for repainting the steel superstructure and the other is for rehabilitating the bridge deck.”
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