Historical Background
The existing Topeka Blvd. Bridge was constructed in 1938 as a WPA Project. The design loadings for this bridge were based on 1935 specifications and criteria.
The bridge provided a major Kansas River crossing at Topeka that carried US HWY 75 traffic. Our records indicate that the structure functioned well and required only minor maintenance until 1970, when the State Highway Commission of Kansas (now called the Kansas Department of Transportation) directed a major repair project that included the removal and reconstruction of the entire bridge deck surface. In the years following this major rehabilitation project, the bridge remained the responsibility of the Kansas Department of Transportation, and provided a City Connecting Link for US HWY 75.
In 1991 a City, County, State Agreement No. 7-91, allowed for a System Enhancement Project of US HWY 75 By-Pass. Upon completion of the US HWY 75 By-Pass project, the ownership of the Topeka Blvd. bridge would become the responsibility of the City of Topeka.
In 1995 an independent condition study and development of needed bridge repair plans was conducted to identify items needing repair or maintenance prior to transfer of ownership. In August 1998 the Kansas Department of Transportation initiated a repair project that addressed a portion of the repairs specified in the study.
On October 24, 1998 the ownership of the bridge was transferred from the Kansas Department of Transportation to the City of Topeka. From that point in time until April 25, 2001, a substantial portion of the City Bridge Maintenance Budget has been directed to the Topeka Blvd. Bridge.
On April 25, 2001 a section of concrete measuring approximately 8’ x 12’ x 1.5” fell from the bottom of the bridge deck along the inside northbound lane, and landed inside the City Street Division yard at 201 N. Topeka. An emergency evaluation and repair process began at that time. The initial investigations revealed a significant loss of a section in the principle deck reinforcing steel due to corrosion.
On May 1, 2001 the City Council was presented its first overview of the situation. Over the next two weeks repair options and associated costs were presented to the Council, and it was determined to proceed with a repair plan that would provide a safe structure open to four lanes of passenger car and light traffic (5 Ton Limit) until design and construction of a replacement structure has been completed. This repair project was completed October 19, 2001.
In March 2002, Finney & Turnipseed, P.A. completed a bridge study and concept report. The purpose of the study was to establish a design concept and associated project budget for the replacement of the Topeka Boulevard Bridge over the Kansas River. The study is focused on investigating the following:
- Determining the interim costs associated with not replacing the
bridge immediately and continuing to operate it. Various repair and rehabilitation scenarios were presented.
- Study and establish a design concept and associated project budget for the replacement of the Topeka Boulevard Bridge over the Kansas River.
- Study the feasibility and costs associated with a possible connection to the tract of land bounded by the Union Pacific Railroad on the north and the Kansas River on the south in North Topeka.
- Study a possible interim connection to Interstate 70 highway and Topeka Boulevard and making the necessary enhancements to provide for this future connection.
- Establish a public involvement plan to allow the public input into the planning process.
In April 2002, the Topeka City Council approved $1,612,400 for design phase services. A notice to proceed was issued to Finney & Turnipseed, P.A. in May 2002 to begin project design. Final plans, specifications, and cost estimates were submitted in September 2005.
