Engineering report on Friendship Trail Bridge delivered - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

http://www.lcaonline.org/article/Chicago-Suburb-Aurora-Spring-Sales-Blossom.html
This report was requested after an initia l report in December founc major structural flaws in the bridge that require that the entire structurebe closed. Residentxs and tourists had heavily used the bicycle and walkinbg trail that runs parallel to the road alontgGandy Boulevard. • Inspection and invasivr testing of the lower spans of the bridges on each side confirmed the initial reportsx that girders were heavily corrodeddand broken. • Significant repairs would be requirede from the entrances of the bridge up to the ends of the catwalkxs onboth sides.
A full repai of the entire bridge, in order to reopej it to recreational use, would cost $15 million and woulc extend the life of the bridgwe an additional 10 years before it would need tobe • Repairing just the spanz from the entrances to the ends of the catwalka would cost $10 million, which would include demolishingy the high span. The repaired sectionss would be structurally sound for 10 year s and requireeventual demolition. • Demolishing the entire bridge and buildingb fishing piers at wouldcost $17.t million.
These piers might need to be relocatef when a new Gandy Bridge is built aftee the current one outlives itslife • Demolishing the entire bridgr and building fishing piers off the new Gandy Bridges after it is constructerd would cost $13 million to demolishu the bridge now and an additiona estimated $6.5 million to build the new piersa in the future. The full report, alongg with graphics of proposed options, is available online on the