The cost to repair and upgrade the CP Rail overpass at Barnet Highway and St. Johns Street is almost doubling to $2.1 million
Tuesday, Port Moody council approved an additional $1 million to resurface the bridge deck and widen the sidewalk on the westbound span.
The work was originally budgeted to cost $1.1 million. But recent inspections by an independent engineering team determined the overpass is deteriorating at an increased rate, likely because of the tough weather this past winter.
“Detailed assessments confirm the deck maintenance cannot be delayed any longer without risking the structural integrity of the bridge,” said a report to council.
Repairs will include milling of the bridge’s surface, the installation of new deck joints, a new concrete surface and an upgraded traffic barrier.
As well, the narrow sidewalk on the western span will be widened to 3.3 metres to provide more comfort and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The new width will meet minimum Transportation Association of Canada guidelines for a multi-use path. Some of the cost to build the path will be covered by a $277,000 grant from TransLink. The city has applied for an additional contribution of $424,000.
While the report acknowledges the westbound and eastbound bridges also need seismic upgrading, and the westbound bridge requires a new retaining wall and the elimination of half-joints, that work, which is estimated to cost $3 million, is being deferred until more funding can be secured.
In 2015, the city applied for federal infrastructure funding of $5.05 million to cover the cost of upgrading the bridge, but has heard nothing since.
Work is expected to begin in July and extend into September. Some of the construction will be done at night to reduce its impact on traffic. The overpass is used by about 37,000 vehicles every day.
