East Ave. Bridge
needs truss repairs

At a special meeting Friday afternoon, Newark village board members heard Reg Stanley of Vector Construction describe what was found when the concrete deck was recently removed from the East Ave. bridge.

Stanley listed items of structurally necessary repairs that were not included in the original estimates for the reconstruction project. According to Sergio Estaban, of LaBella Engineers, now that all concrete has been removed, there shouldn't be any more 'hidden' damage.

Overruns and additional repairs in the amount of approximately $85,000 were discussed with a little more than half being structural in nature. Added rivet replacements were a major portion of the items uncovered when concrete was removed. Other items, besides additional engineering, are cosmetic. Esteban expained that although cosmetic, and not necessarily adding value to the bridge, they could avoid problems with inspectors in the future.

Esteban said, "The East Ave. bridge has been the focus of a lot of attention. We don't want people to mis-understand when viewing (the bridge)." He added, "We want the job to look right as well as be right."

Where will the money come from? The village has a small cities grant of $100,000 that Mayor Fred Pirelli proposed be used to cover the overruns. Pirelli insisted that no taxpayer monies will be used for the bridge. Trustee Peter Blandino questioned as to what the $100,000 was, if it wasn't taxpayer money? Pirelli re-worded his comment, saying that no VILLAGE taxpayer money would be used for the bridge.

It was moved by Trustee Palermo, seconded by VandeMortal, and duly carried to amend the total cost of the project from $800,000 to $900,000.

The additional financing source shall be from the additional Small Cities Aid that is anticipated to be received this fiscal year. The amount of Small Cities Aid to be used shall be increased from $60,000 to $100,000. It was a unanimous vote with Trustee Virts absent from the meeting.

It is obvious that because of bridge overruns, financing for the Harrison Street project have dried up. Mayor Pirelli stated that this project will move forward once a financing source OTHER THAN LOCAL TAX LEVY can be obtained.

That project will align Harrison Street with West Shore Boulevard.

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