Project Title: RFP, Design/Build, Convert a Railroad Trestle into a Multi-Use Bridge on the Cricket Frog Trail in Covington, GA
Project Solicitation Number (if any):
Project Description: The historic Central of Georgia Railroad right-of-way is currently owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad. 15 miles of the right-of-way in Newton County is leased to Newton Trails. Newton Trails is authorized to construct and operate a Multi-Use Trail (The Cricket Frog Trail) within the right-of-way and may enter into contracts for necessary improvements.
Additional information about the Newton Trails organization and the Cricket Frog Trail can be found at https://www.newtontrails.org. An internet search for photographs and maps should yield other information.
The leased railroad right-of-way contains 4 trestle bridges – Dried Indian Creek, Alcovy River, West Bear Creek, and East Bear Creek. These trestles are in various degrees of disrepair. Newton Trails intends to convert these existing railroad trestles into pedestrian bridges serving the Cricket Frog Multi-Use Trail. This project focuses on the Dried Indian Creek Trestle.
The most visible, accessible, and prestigious of the four trestles is the Dried Indian Creek Trestle, located in downtown Covington, adjacent to Covington City Hall, and a few blocks from the Newton County Courthouse and the Town Square. Newton Trails hopes to create an iconic focal point for the Cricket Frog Trail in what will be the most highly used section. Thus, raising awareness, creating interest, and enhancing fundraising for further development. There may be potential for naming rights if this project achieves its potential.
Existing Conditions
The Dried Indian Creek Trestle crosses over Dried Indian Creek south of US Hwy 278, between Emory Street and Pace Street in the City of Covington. The existing structure is 247 ft long and 20-24 ft high. It consists of 19 spans supported by 18 timber-pile bents and two abutments, spaced 13 feet on center.
Each bent consists of 5 vertical timber piles with a 14”(w) x 15”(h) concrete cap. The pile cap is 17 feet long and extends 18 inches beyond the outside beams on each side of railbed support. Pile bents are braced with 3”x10” diagonal timbers. Similar bracing exists between some but not all bents. The railbed is standard granite and cinder railroad ballast approximately 8 inches deep, laid on a 14-ft wide, solid raft of 3”x9” cross-ties, carried by nine 9”x16” timber beams resting on the concrete pile caps.
The existing structure has been unused for freight train traffic for approximately 20 years, but due to the heft of the original design and construction, Newton Trails believes that the overall structure has many years of useful service life remaining as a multi-use trail. Incidental timber components may have deteriorated and may need to be replaced. Vertical piles are assumed to be structurally adequate when evaluated collectively within each bent.
Project Concept
The project is expected to consist of 3 Phases – (1.) Evaluation of the existing structure, (2.) Design of the proposed improvements, and (3.) Construction.
Components of design and construction include safety railings along both sides of the trestle, safety fencing on each side of the earth fill approaches at each end of the trestle, and the trail surface on the trestle and approaches.
Company/Organization/Agency Submitting Contract: Newton Trails, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization
Primary Contact for Contract Information: Lowell Chambers
Email Address: Info@NewtonTrails.org
Closest City to Project: Covington
State/Province/Region: Georgia
Country: USA
Anticipated Project Start Date: 4/30/2020
Application Deadline: 3/2/2020
Additional Project Bid Information: RFP will be emailed upon request. Copy inquiries to both Info@NewtonTrails.organd ChambersSheets@Charter.net
Newton Trails is enthusiastic to get started on this project and would like to receive proposals by March 2, 2020. Review of submittals, and preliminary selection of a contractor, should be complete within 30 days. Negotiation and award of the contract should begin immediately after. Six (6) months is anticipated as sufficient time for construction. The goal is to have the trestle open to the public in Fall of 2020 if not before. If a proponent cannot meet this schedule, an alternative schedule should be proposed along with the price implications of an earlier or later schedule.
Date Submitted to PTBA: 1/25/2020