Council approves $90K study for rehabilitation of old suspension bridge

The City of Roma held a meeting on December 13, 2024, focusing on critical infrastructure studies and funding opportunities related to the rehabilitation of the old suspension bridge. The agenda included discussions on two significant studies aimed at assessing the bridge's structural integrity and social-economic impacts.

The first study, which is currently in progress, involves modernizing the old expansion bridge leading to the international bridge. This study is essential for understanding the project's financial risks and is estimated to cost $16,775. It aims to provide a comprehensive analysis necessary for securing compensation related to financial liabilities.

The second agenda item, labeled 2024-392, addressed the approval of a more extensive study for the verification of the old suspension bridge. This study, totaling $90,480, will include a detailed inspection of the bridge, conceptual designs for rehabilitation, and a social-economic analysis. Funding for this study will be provided by NAPLAN, and it is part of a coordinated effort with local stakeholders.

City officials discussed the timeline for these studies, noting that they are being conducted in collaboration with Mexican authorities. The completion of these studies is expected to facilitate further engineering and construction efforts. Officials are currently awaiting procurement documents from TeXa, which are necessary to move forward with requests for qualifications (RFQs) for engineering services.

The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance of these studies in fostering collaboration with Mexican partners in the bridge restoration process. The studies are anticipated to be available soon, potentially within the next week, which will aid in advancing the rehabilitation efforts.