LTC 229-2004 Rehabilitation of the 63rd Street Bridge, Construction of AT-Grage Intersection at 63rd Street and Indian Creek Drive, and Reconstruction of Indian Creek Drive From 63rd Street to Abbott Avenue
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 229-2004
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From:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez~, 'J-~
City Manager r 0
REHABILlTATI OF THE 63RD STREET BRIDGE, CONSTRUCTION OF
AT-GRADE INTERSECTION AT 63RD STREET AND INDIAN CREEK
DRIVE, AND RECONSTRUCTION OF INDIAN CREEK DRIVE FROM 63RD
STREET TO ABBOTT AVENUE
Date: August 26, 2004
To:
Subject:
Early this week I met Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials to better
understand the subject project but primarily to get answers to the allegations made by Mr.
Ted Berman that the existing drawbridge did not need complete renovation. I was satisfied
with FDOT answers and requested that you be given the same opportunity to review their
project information in individual meetings scheduled for tomorrow.
In advance of the meeting, I am forwarding copy of letter from FDOT regarding the 63'd
Street Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation and pictures documenting the condition ofthe bridge.
I am also forwarding copy of a Technical Memorandum that contains the following:
1. Review of the handout entitled "63'd Street Flyover - Citizens Transportation
Advisory Committee (CTAC)," dated July 14, 2004, as provided by FDOT.
2. Level of Service (LOS) analysis for a variation ofthe No-Build Alternative which has
been referred to as Alternative 3 in previous FDOT and City studies. The variation,
hereinafter referred to as Alternative 3A, calls for eliminating the west-bound
movements (right and left turns) at the 63'd Street study intersection.
3. Summary of additional operating performance measures to compare the various
/In;1's.
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c: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Fred H. Beckmann, Director of Public Works
F:IWORK\$ALLIOLUGY LLOPI51L TCIRehab 63rd 51 Bridge and Reconstruction.doc
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Florida Department ofi.riiih$ponE!tion
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JEB BUSH
GOVERNOR
1000 Northwest IIlth Avenue
Miami, Florida 33172-5800
Telephone No.: (305) 470-5464
JOSE ABREU
SECRETARY
August 19,2004
Fred Beckmann, P.E.
Public Works Director
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Re: FM No. 249940-1 /407935-1 / Replacement of 63'd Street Flyover and
63rd Street Bascule Bridge rehabilitation
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Dear~ann:
The Department has reviewed the e-mail that you forwarded to us from Mr. Berman and Mr. Weithorn.
The e-mail refers to a small portion of the Bridge Inspection Report "Fracture Critical Inspection
Report" dated January 30, 2004. We believe that they have reached their conclusions with incomplete
information.
Bascule bridges are completely inspected every two years and once a year for Fracture Critical
Members. The complete report dated February 12, 2003 covers the electrical and mechanical
components which are not included in the 2004 report. In addition, a complete Bridge Development
Report (BDR) was performed on the structure in May 2003 which included bridge load ratings. This
BDR revealed numerous structuraJ, mechanical and electrical system deficiencies that need immediate
attention.
The structuraJ components inspection indicates that the entire bridge is corroded and some members
have 100 % section loss under the sidewalks. From our bridge load rating calculations, we have
determined that one of the floor beams controls the structural capacity of the bridge. This beam by
code requirements must be replaced. Other structuraJ members are also in need of replacement or
strengthening. As for the mechanical components, the span drive machinery was heavily corroded,
heavily worn, and lacks a means ofload sharing between the rack pinions. One of the enclosed reducers
had heavy internal corrosion with rust particles contaminating the lubrication and contributing to
potential bearing failure. The main rack teeth engaged with the leaves seated were deformed from
restraining the leaves from bouncing under live load. The machinery brakes were in poor condition and
may not stop or hold the leaves in an emergency stop or high wind condition. The deficient electrical
items identified in the report include the lack of a standby generator capable of operating the gates or
leafs. Other major critical equipment and systems also need to be replaced, including the brakes, span
locks, traffic signals and the conduit and wiring system.
-,
F. Beckmann
812012004
Page 2
As requested, the Department will provide the City copies of all the Bridge Inspection Reports. We
trust that you will agree with our assessment that this bridge has reached its useful life and major
structural, mechanical and electrical renovations are required to ensure the continued safe operations of
the bridge.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (305) 470-5464.
Sincerely,
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I li~:r~fProduCtion
cc: John Martinez, Secretary FDOT District VI
Gus Pego, District Director of Operations
Frank Guyamier, District Structures and Facilities Engineer
Abbreviated Inspection Report
For
N.W. 63rd Street Bascule Bridge
Over
Indian Creek Canal
Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County Florida
State of Florida
Department of Transportation
District 6
Project Manager: Dennis Fernandez, P.E.
State Project FM #'s: 407935-1-32-01 & 249940-1-32-01
Prepared by:
Yaskin Engineering, Inc.
11401 S.W 40th Street
Miami, Florida 33165
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FLOOR BEAM 1
Critical Member due to Load Ratin!!
Member requires that the bridge be posted at operating level for almost all Florida
legal trucks. Truck loads will be reduced from 10% to 30% oflegal weights, even
without consideration of loss of section.
Member Condition
In most cases this member is in good condition, except at ends where lateral bracing
connections are made.
Recommended Action
Post bridge to reduce truck loading or take bridge out of service and replace beams
in all 4 locations. Strengthening of this member is not viable due to the added
weight and the need to balance bridge.
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FLOOR BEAM 2
Member Condition
Member was cover plated in 1988 to repair badly corroded top and bottom flanges.
Cover plates have also become badly corroded.
Recommended Action
Take bridge out of service and replace beams in all 4 locations or take bridge out of
service and replace all cover plates in all 4 locations to strengthen.
Member Condition
Member was cover plated and repaired in 1988 to correct badly corroded top and
bottom flanges. Cover plates and repairs have now also become badly corroded.
Recommended Action
Take bridge out of service and replace beams in 4 locations.
CONCRETE FILLED GRATING btwn Floor Beam 3 and Counterweil!ht Girder 1
Member Condition
Grating is badly corroded - Note top flanges of supporting members
Recommended Action
Take bridge out of service and replace grating.
STRINGERS BETWEEN FLOOR BEAM 1 AND FLOOR BEAM 3
Member Condition
In General these members are in good condition. There are however, three stringers
that have sufficient corrosion to warrant their replacement.
Recommended Action
Clean and paint all stringers that are in good condition and replace the three stringers
mentioned above.
STRINGERS BETWEEN FLOOR BEAM 3 AND COUNTERWEIGHT GIRDER 1
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Member Condition
The top flanges of these stringers are corroded. They support the concrete filled
grating, which as noted above is recommended to be replaced
Recommended Action
Replace all stringers.
TRUNNION GIRDERS
Member Condition
The top flanges ofthese girders are corroded. They support the concrete filled
grating, which as noted above is recommended to be replaced.
Recommended Action
Remove and replace top flange oftrunnion girders
COUNTERWEIGHT GIRDER 1
Member Condition
The top flanges of these girders was repaired in 1988 and these repairs are now
corroded. The top flange and the repairs support the concrete filled grating, which as
noted above is recommended to be replaced.
Recommended Action
Take Bridge out of service and remove and replace top flange repairs of
counterweight girders I
COUNTERWEIGHT GIRDER 2
Member Condition
This girder has become badly corroded.
Recommended Action
Take Bridge out of service and remove all corrosion and repair with new steel.
CROSS BRACING and GUSSET PLATES
Member Condition
Diagonal bracing members are made up of back- to-back angles and have slight to moderate
corrosion. Almost all bracing members exhibit severe corrosion along the joint between
angles. .
Recommended Action
Removed and replace these members with structural tee sections
Machinerv
,
The span drive machinery was heavily corroded,
heavily worn, and lacks a means of load sharing
between the rack pinions. The rack teeth engaged
with the leaves seated were deformed from restraining
the leaves from bouncing under live load.
One of the enclosed reducers had
heavy internal corrosion with rust
particles contaminating the
lubrication and potential bearing
failure. Many bearings were
inaccessible for clearance
measurements due to the machinery
configuration. Those bearings
measured showed moderate to
heavy wear.
Each leaf originally had a motor
and a machinery brake. The
motor brakes were removed
from each leaf when the 20 HP
motors were installed. The
remaInIng machinery brakes
were in poor condition and may
not stop or hold the leaves in an
emergency stop or high wind
condition.
The recently installed 20 HP motors
are twice as powerful as the original
10 HP motors and subject the
machinery to potential overstress.
AASHTO operating horsepower
requirement calculations justity the
need for 20 HP motors, but the
existing machinery was designed
for 10 HP motors.
The leaves bounced excessively
under live load due to excessive
span lock clearance, improper
seating of the leaves on the live
load shoes, and the removal of the tail locks. The connection between the end floor beam
and span lock support beam was loose at the extreme north span lock.
The trunnions and trunnion bearings were observed to be in satisfactory condition, but were
not well aligned. The inboard ends of the trunnions did not have typical alignment
eccentrics. Wedges were used to align the trunnions. The trunnion bearing support
pedestals were heavily corroded with 100% section loss of some members. Minor
movement between trunnions, trunnion hubs, and main girders was observed on the
northeast and northwest leaves.
Tooth wear and the FDOT balance test report indicate all leaves were excessively span
heavy.
Recommended Action
Take bridge out of service and replace all of the existing machinery. The system should
provided a means ofload sharing. Provide new span lock and tail locks.
Electrical
A portion of the bridge electrical system was
replaced during 2002. New equipment
included leaf motors and motor drives,
rotating cam limit switches, motor disconnect
switches, motor control center, relay cabinet,
control console and touch screen control.
However, other major critical equipment and
systems were not replaced, including the .
brakes, span locks, tail locks, traffic signals
and the conduit and wiring system, and many
deficiencies remain. The leaf motor
brakes were removed and not
replaced. The bridge does not have a
standby generator capable of
operating the gates or leafs; only a
very small generator to operate
navigation lighting and the marine
radio.
It is important that the full bridge
rehabilitation now be performed to
correct existing deficiencies and
ensure proper and safe bridge
operations. Some of the recently
installed work will have to be
removed to permit installation of the
new equipment, and the PLC will
have to be reprogrammed. Additional
changes will result from revisions to
the traffic lane reconfiguration.