?Weight Limit 3 Tons? Section to be added to City Code for Brown Avenue
Initiator
Engineering Department
Recommendation
Approval is hereby requested to establish a ?Weight Limit 3 Tons? section to \n \n the existing codification Section 20-9.48 for the length of Brown Avenue from \n \n Cusseta Road to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
Approval
Approved
Background
As a part of their biennial inspection procedure, Georgia Department of
Transportation (G DOT) has informed the Columbus Consolidated Government in a
letter of November 13, 2009, that the load carrying capacity of the subject
bridge has been reduced to 3 Tons. The G DOT letter further stated that the
"continued loading by vehicles over the posted weight limit will result in
accelerated deterioration of the concrete caps and any further deterioration
will result in the closure of the bridge" to all traffic. The G DOT letter
noted that "school buses should also be re-routed off of this structure" until
such time as the needed repairs can be made. The purpose of this ?Weight Limit
3 Tons? amendment to the City Code is in response to this request of Georgia
DOT. This amendment would add a schedule to include all vehicles, not just
trucks.
Analysis
The proposed weight limit restriction will affect the pedestrians and motorists
on Brown Ave. The bridge previously has a 10 Ton weight limit and overweight
vehicles have been forced to find alternative routes for several years.
Alternative routes are available. The City is working with G DOT to expedite
the bridge replacement project and is looking for temporary repairs to increase
the allowable load limit.
Financial Considerations
The cost of the ?Weight Limit 3 Tons? signs would be approximately $ 125.00
each and will be charged to the Traffic Engineering Division Operating Budget.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement
Legal Considerations
All Weight Limit ordinances require approval by Council.
Recommendations/ Actions
Approve a ?Weight Limit 3 Tons? ordinance along the above-described segment of