Agenda 05/14/2019 Item #16A 3 (Voluntary Privately Owned Bridge Inspection)05/14/2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to (1) adopt a Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Collier
County, Florida, establishing a voluntary program encouraging the periodic inspection and
maintenance of privately-owned bridges, and to allow owners of privately-owned bridges which
connect two public roadways to convey ownership and ongoing structural maintenance of such
bridges to the County, and (2) direct County staff to develop standards for the bridge inspection
report, to be approved by the Board, as well as develop an administrative procedure to govern the
Program.
OBJECTIVE: To act in the best interests of the public’s health, safety, and welfare by establishing a
voluntary program encouraging the periodic inspection and maintenance of privately-owned bridges,
and to allow owners of privately-owned bridges which connect two public roadways to convey
ownership and ongoing structural maintenance of such bridges to the County.
CONSIDERATIONS: Collier County has hundreds of bridges within its boundaries, with many of
them having been constructed by private entities over the years. These privately-owned bridges fall into
three main categories:
1. Bridges which connect two public roadways,
2. bridges connected to only one public roadway (such as entrances to private developments), and
3. bridges that are internal to private developments.
With few exceptions, age, inspection, and maintenance history of these privately held bridges are
unknown. Bridges, like other structures and assets, have a finite lifespan and require oversight and
maintenance to verify and maintain their integrity for as long a period as possible.
The County’s owned and maintained assets in the current bridge program include approximately 120
bridges that are inspected biennially by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The County
relies on FDOT’s inspection program to determine the “health” of each bridge, and in this way, the staff
is made aware of and can address any deficiencies noted in the inspections. Funds are budgeted for
repairs, and when necessary, replacements of county bridges. At present, there is no policy regarding
inspection and monitoring of private bridges. It is the responsibility of the private bridge owners to
budget and fund maintenance repairs and ultimate replacement of such structures. The County currently
does not monitor private bridges.
Staff was asked last year to take over a privately-owned bridge on Logan Blvd. that connects county-
owned roadways. It was accepted by the Board of County Commissioners on July 10, 2018. This
acceptance has brought into focus the need for Board direction on the county’s role in ensuring the
safety of the traveling public on county roads with private bridges. Staff is now proactively proposing
standards to be met and by this resolution address requests from private bridge owners for acceptance of
ownership and maintenance authority by the County for existing and future bridges that connect County-
owned and maintained roadways. Known bridges that fall into that category are:
1. Goodlette-Frank Road over Pelican Marsh Boulevard, and golf cart path
2. Strand Blvd over the Cocohatchee Canal
3. Livingston Road over a Pelican Marsh golf cart path
4. Bellaire Bay Drive over the Cocohatchee Canal
5. Goodland Bay Drive over the Cocohatchee Canal
The attached resolution ensures a policy for county staff to follow in accepting ownership and
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maintenance of private bridges and also addresses bridges that will remain privately owned.
FISCAL IMPACT: The current fiscal impact includes cost associated with the maintenance of the five
connector bridges, estimated at $900 per bridge per year. Additional costs include those associated with
consultant bridge inspection report review and maintenance program peer review estimated at $1,500 per
bridge.
The five known bridges that connect County-owned and maintained roadways have an average remaining
useful life of 20 years. Replacement costs, in 2019 dollars, are estimated to be as follows:
1. Goodlette-Frank Road over Pelican Marsh Boulevard, and golf cart path - $1,700,000
2. Strand Blvd over the Cocohatchee Canal - $1,500,000
3. Livingston Road over a Pelican Marsh golf cart path - $ 950,000
4. Bellaire Bay Drive over the Cocohatchee Canal - $ 800,000
5. Goodland Bay Drive over the Cocohatchee Canal - $800,000
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This recommendation is consistent with the Long-Range
Transportation Plan and the Collier County Growth Management Plan.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
form and legality, and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: To (1) adopt the attached Resolution of the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, establishing a voluntary program encouraging the periodic
inspection and maintenance of privately-owned bridges, and to allow owners of privately-owned bridges
which connect two public roadways to convey ownership and ongoing structural maintenance of such
bridges to the County, and (2) direct County staff to develop standards for the bridge inspection report,
to be approved by the Board, as well as develop an administrative procedure to govern the Program.
Prepared by: Jay Ahmad, P.E., Transportation Engineering Director & Marlene Messam, Principal
Project Manager, Transportation Engineering Division, Growth Management Department
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Resolution - Bridge Policy - Final (DOCX)
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.3
Doc ID: 8534
Item Summary: Recommendation to (1) adopt a Resolution of the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, establishing a voluntary program encouraging the periodic
inspection and maintenance of privately-owned bridges, and to allow owners of privately-owned bridges
which connect two public roadways to convey ownership and ongoing structural maintenance of such
bridges to the County, and (2) direct County staff to develop standards for the bridge inspection report, to
be approved by the Board, as well as develop an administrative procedure to govern the Program.
Meeting Date: 05/14/2019
Prepared by:
Title: Project Manager, Principal – Transportation Engineering
Name: Marlene Messam
04/10/2019 9:48 AM
Submitted by:
Title: Division Director - Transportation Eng – Transportation Engineering
Name: Jay Ahmad
04/10/2019 9:48 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Transportation Engineering Jay Ahmad Additional Reviewer Completed 04/12/2019 9:18 AM
Growth Management Department Christine Arnold Level 1 Reviewer Completed 04/12/2019 11:18 AM
Growth Management Department Gene Shue Additional Reviewer Completed 04/12/2019 3:10 PM
Growth Management Department Matthew McLean Additional Reviewer Completed 04/15/2019 7:36 AM
Growth Management Operations Support Christopher Johnson Additional Reviewer Completed 04/16/2019 1:11 PM
Capital Project Planning, Impact Fees, and Program Management Trinity Scott Additional Reviewer Completed 04/16/2019 1:25 PM
Growth Management Department James C French Deputy Department Head Review Completed 04/18/2019 9:23 AM
Growth Management Department Thaddeus Cohen Department Head Review Completed 04/18/2019 9:46 AM
Office of Management and Budget Valerie Fleming Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 04/18/2019 3:32 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 04/24/2019 3:52 PM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke Additional Reviewer Completed 04/25/2019 10:27 AM
County Manager's Office Nick Casalanguida Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 05/05/2019 8:32 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 05/14/2019 9:00 AM
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RESOLUTION NO. 2019 - ____
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A VOLUNTARY
PRIVATE BRIDGE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has determined that it is in the best
interests of the public’s health, safety, and welfare to establish a voluntary program encouraging
the periodic inspection and maintenance of privately-owned bridges, and to allow owners of
privately-owned bridges which connect two public roadways to convey ownership and ongoing
structural maintenance of such bridges to the County.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
1. This Program shall be applicable only within the unincorporated areas of Collier County.
2. The following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings set forth herein:
Board shall mean the Collier County Board of County Commissioners.
Bridge shall mean a structure, including supports, erected over a depression or over an
obstruction such as water, highway or railway, or for elevated roadway, for carrying traffic
or other moving loads, and having a length, measured along the center of the road way, of
more than 20 feet between the inside faces of end supports. A multiple-span box culvert
is considered a bridge, where the length between the extreme ends of the openings exceeds
20 feet.
Privately-Owned Bridge shall mean a Bridge that is connected to at least one public road,
including entrance bridges that lead into private developments. Bridges within private
developments fall outside the scope of this program.
Owner shall mean the record owner of the Privately-Owned Bridge, or the legal entity,
such as a homeowner’s association or community development district board, that oversees
the private development served by the Privately-Owned Bridge.
3. Maintenance and Inspections of all Privately-Owned Bridges.
(a) Maintenance. All Privately-Owned Bridges should be regularly and
properly maintained. Maintenance should include not only the structural components of
the bridge, but also decorative and nondecorative signs, landscaping, special paint color,
decorative lighting, decorative railing, and pavement markings.
(b) Inspection. Every Owner of a Privately-Owned Bridge should submit to the
County once every six years a complete signed and sealed bridge inspection report,
conducted by a licensed bridge inspector hired by the Owner. The bridge inspection report
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must meet County standards as developed by staff and approved by the Board. The bridge
inspection report must at a minimum contain the following information:
a. Bridge identification and location
b. Physical dimensions such as total length, span lengths, width, and
clearances
c. Information pertaining to the construction material and design type of the
bridge
d. Roadway functional classification and average daily traffic
e. Safe load capacities and any load restrictions
f. Channel conditions and profiles
g. Condition descriptions and condition ratings
h. Inspection notes, sketches, and photographs
i. Work recommendations
j. Critical inspection findings and highlight of deficiencies.
The County will review the report and notify the Owner if repairs are recommended to be
made at the Owner’s expense.
4. County Assumption of Ownership of a Privately-Owned Bridge that connects two public
roadways.
(a) An Owner of a Privately-Owned Bridge that connects two public roadways
may request that the County assume ownership and ongoing maintenance responsibilities
of the bridge. County staff will develop an administrative procedure for the review of such
a request. The procedure must include, but is not limited to, the Owner’s submission of a
complete signed and sealed bridge inspection report, conducted by a licensed bridge
inspector hired by the Owner, in the same format as that required above.
(b) County staff will review the bridge inspection report and notify the Owner
if repairs are to be made at the Owner’s expense. The Owner shall be responsible for
correcting all deficiencies when notified by the County in a commercially reasonable
manner. After the repairs are made and accepted by the County, the Owner will submit an
updated inspection report.
(c) The parties will then enter into a standard form agreement, in which the
County will agree to accept and maintain the structural portions of the Bridge, and the
Owner will agree to maintain all non-structural elements as identified within the agreement,
which will be presented to the Board for final approval.
(d) Board review and approval will be limited to the assurance that the
provisions of this Resolution have been substantially complied with.
(e) Bridges that have not been voluntarily maintained and inspected will not be
eligible for this program.
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Packet Pg. 564 Attachment: Resolution - Bridge Policy - Final (8534 : Private Bridge Policy)
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5. The County WILL NOT consider ownership requests for a Privately-Owned Bridge
that only connects to one public roadway and those within private developments. Owners of these
types of bridges should continue to follow the inspection and maintenance procedures as outline
herein.
THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED after majority vote on the ___ day of ________, 2019.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, CLERK COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: By:
, Deputy Clerk William L. McDaniel, Jr., Chairman
Approved as to form and legality:
______________________________
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
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Packet Pg. 565 Attachment: Resolution - Bridge Policy - Final (8534 : Private Bridge Policy)