Saginaw and Bay City News
Bay City hears from 3 companies interested in operating Liberty and Independence bridges
Bay City Commission holds public meeting with bridge proposals
Gallery: Bay City Commission holds public meeting with bridge proposals
By Caitlyn French | cfrench@mlive.com
BAY CITY, MI - Three companies presented their proposals for operating Liberty and Independence drawbridges during a meeting Thursday, July 11, with Bay City Commissioners.
American Roads, Kiewit, and United Bridge Partners are vying for an agreement with the city to operate and maintain the spans. The proposals could mean tolls to help pay for bridge maintenance.
The city's original request for proposals focused on replacing Independence Bridge and rehabilitating Liberty Bridge. However, each of the three companies responded to the request with their own proposals.
The Commission did not make a decision following the presentations on Thursday. The full proposals can be read here.
American Roads
American Roads' proposal focused on rehabilitating Independence and demolishing Liberty Bridge. The proposal calls for creating parks as part of a riverside beautification project after Liberty is removed.
The American Roads team presented a proposal that calls for $210 million in investment over the life of the agreement with the city. The funding includes $50 million for Independence Bridge rehabilitation and $10 million for Liberty Bridge demolition.
The presentation focused on "Preservation over Replacement," in regards to the Independence Bridge. American Roads would swap out mechanical and electrical components while preserving the original bridge without having to build a new one.
To cover costs, the following tolling structure was presented for single-axle vehicles:
- Bay City Resident: $0.75
- Non-Resident: $1.50
- Non-Resident (non-account holder): $2.00
Heavy vehicles have the following proposed toll rates:
- Bay City Resident: 4-axles = $1.25; 5-axles or more = $1.75
- Non-Resident: 4-axles = $2.00; 5-axles or more = $2.50
- Non-Resident (non-account holder): 4-axles = $2.50; 5-axles or more = $3.00
The American Roads team discussed the toll rates and how they were selected to minimize traffic diversion.
"When it comes to toll rates and who you're tolling and how much, the implication of traffic diversion comes into play," said American Roads team member Kyle Granowski.
American Roads said that the proposed rates are among the lowest toll rates in the country. The team explained that the price difference between commercial and regular vehicles was minimized.
American Roads is a Michigan based company that has worked on rehabilitation projects in the past on the Liberty, Independence, and Veterans Memorial bridges in Bay City.
Companies offer 3 plans to save Bay City's drawbridges
The City Commission is hosting a meeting July 11 to hear presentations for public-private partnerships to operate Bay City drawbridges. Here's a summary of those plans.
The Kiewit team's proposal presentation focused more on forming a partnership with the city instead of going into construction and tolling specifics.
Kiewit's Mike Ostlund said the company wants to "see what makes sense before we move forward."
Kiewit explained that their plan was to define and quantify the needs of the bridges before forming a firm plan. Rick Wianecki, who has inspected Bay City's bridges in the past, said that both bridges have decades of life left in them but are both in need of new electrical and mechanical components.
Kiewit presented three possible scenarios to the commissioners as examples. The first was to repair Independence and Liberty, with an estimated cost of $29.5 million. The second was to repair Independence and remove Liberty for $26.5 million while a third option to build a new Independence Bridge while removing Liberty was priced at $100 million. Kiewit's team emphasized that the first two options were feasible and that the third was not.
However, the company emphasized that they want to team up with the city by doing additional studies before producing a detailed plan.
"Our approach is to be partners. Maybe it's an overused term, but it's the way we do business," Kiewit's Joe Wingerter said.
Kiewit is an Omaha, Nebraska, based company and is the construction manager and general contractor on the 2020 MDOT Lafayette Bridge replacement project.
Bay City's lifeblood flows across its 4 drawbridges. Saving 2 of them may take tolls
Bay City commissioners will consider three bids for public-private partnerships to maintain the city's 2 drawbridges. That could mean tolls ahead.
United Bridge Partners
United Bridge Partners presented its plan to renovate and rehabilitate the Liberty Bridge while building a new Independence Bridge.
Liberty Bridge would be given a complete modernization, including new electrical and mechanical systems. The proposal also includes putting decorative accent lighting on the bridge.
The new Independence Bridge would be built to the west of the current bridge with an emphasis on minimizing traffic impacts. The old bridge would remain in use until the completion of the new bridge.
United Bridge Partners' proposal includes tolls and proposes a 50 cents rate for residents per crossing. The proposal offers a transponder at a monthly rate of $15.
School buses, emergency vehicles and users during states of emergencies would be exempt from tolls. The proposal eliminates tolls for residents who are below the poverty guidelines.
The proposal holds off on tolling for residents for five years after construction is completed. Tolls will also not be charged during the construction period itself.
"We think we have identified the correct plan that will minimize impacts to BC residents," said United Bridge Partners Ken Szeliga.
The company is proposing to provide the city with a $5 million acquisition and development fee. The company would assume ownership and liability of the bridges.
United Bridge Partners claimed that no risk would be assumed by the city with the proposal. The company also emphasized that it would plan to use local labor and work with local unions.
Commissioner Andrew Niedzinski inquired if United Bridge Partners would pay property taxes on the bridge if they took over ownership. United Bridge Partners said it would seek an arrangement to not pay property tax in order to keep the project viable.
United Bridge Partners is a Denver, Colorado based firm that has been working since 2017 with Bay City on determining a solution for the bridges.
Public Reaction
Commissioners were not the only ones listening to the teams pitch their proposals; numerous community members were in attendance. Citizens voiced their concerns when the floor opened up for public input.
Concerns varied and ranged from traffic, city finances, tolls, and the shipping channel.
Jim Hayes talked about the long lines at Lafayette bridge and traffic concerns.
"You can do whatever studies - the practical matter is what happens when a bridge is down. Right now when the bridge is down and closed, the city is going crazy," he said.
Bill Wright brought up the idea of converting the bridges to fixed spans like the ones in Saginaw.
"We have other space along the river that is underutilized," he said. "What if we moved everyone down there and didn't have to open the bridges anymore?"
In regards to United Bridge Partners plan, Chris Girard said, "Just make sure you ask the tough questions, because there are a lot of promises and hopefully they address those promises and they fulfill those."
Meanwhile, some citizens were ready to see action taken and a solution found.
"We've kicked the can down the road for a long, long time....I can only hope that our current body will move that can forward a little farther," Dot Rifenbark said.