Waterford Iron Bridge Project Taking Bids

Waterford Township Supervisors have issued an Invitation to Bid to qualified contractors for the Waterford Iron Bridge Project. The township was a winner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)/American Express “Preservation Nation”voting grant for $95,000 in Minnesota. "This iron bridge is a perfect example of a bridge worth saving and I, for one, can't think of a better group of people to champion the project", stated Nels Raynor of BACH Steel, a member of the Workin' Bridges team and a skilled iron bridge craftsmen, specializing in heat straightening, hot riveting and in-kind restorations. 

The Request for Proposals was created by Workin' Bridges, The team working on the project include a seasoned bridge builder Bob Schwensen, Raynor, Jim Schiffer P.E. from Traverse City, Michigan and Julie Bowers, Construction Manager for Workin' Bridges. The NTHP grant originally requested the repair of the abutments supporting the 1909 Camelback Through Truss designed by Chas A. Forbes and built by the Hennepin Bridge Co. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some deck repair, installation of a guardrail for pedestrian and bicycle use, and work on the structure are included in this phase. We worked with the NTHP, contacted the Minnesota's State Historic Preservation Office, the DNR and MnDOT Cultural Affairs to make sure that the plans that we were making jibed with their historic preservation plan. This was reflected by amending the Scope of Work originally provided to the township for the design for the guard rail. The bidders will have to provide costs for two different approaches, a stainless steel wire rail system that disappears that MnDOT is advocating or an epoxy coated black chain link system that provides a deliberate difference from the historic bridge itself used in many bridge restoration projects that the Workin' Bridges team has been involved with. The budget will dictate the choice.

The Workin' Bridges team of experts visited the bridge in November and came up with a repair design which will allow the township to get construction done before the term of the grant expires. A scope of work, photographs and a plan was created that will allow the competitive bid process to go forward under a design/build process. A design build process is a great way to approach getting this project done because the funds are limited. By creating a Scope of Work all estimates will compare apples to apples and the township will be able to make an informed decision from the bidding process. 

The RFP can be requested from the Waterford Township Clerk by emailing waterfordtownship@gmail.com. The deadline for signed and sealed bids is February 8th, with a decision on the contractor choice February 21, 2013.

Workin’ Bridges is part of The N. Skunk River Greenbelt Association (NSRGA), a non-profit from Iowa specializing in historic truss and greenbelt restoration. Questions, please call 641.260.1262