YOUNGSTOWN — The apparent lowest proposal to demolish the Crescent Street Bridge — referred to as a “bridge to nowhere” — is significantly less than the city’s estimate.

The city board of control is expected April 15 to accept that low bid of $582,000 from Rudzik Excavating of Struthers, Charles Shasho, deputy director of public works, said.

The city’s estimate for the work was $947,650.

“There’s so much steel on the bridge, which was a factor in the estimate being high,” Shasho said. “We’re conservative with the salvage value of steel.”

The work will start at the beginning of June and be finished sometime in October, he said.

“It’s been a long wait for this work,” said Councilwoman Samantha Turner, D-3rd, who represents the area.

Two other proposals for the work were $587,477.85 from Marucci and Gaffney Excavating Co. of Youngstown and $647,000 from A.P. O’Horo Co. of Liberty.

GOES NOWHERE

Shasho refers to it as a “bridge to nowhere” because the 78-foot steel girder goes over an abandoned railroad line, just west of West Rayen Avenue.

“The bridge has to come out as it is in poor condition,” he said.

In addition to demolition, the project includes right-of-way purchases, retaining wall improvements, a waterline replacement, and curb and sidewalk replacements.

The space left by the removal of the bridge will be filled in and the roadway will be re-established at a lower elevation.

During the work, the street will be closed with detours posted.

Most of the project will be paid with state funding with the city paying about $100,000 to $120,000, Shasho said.

Also, Shasho expects the board of control on Thursday to approve a $48,000 contract with Environmental Design Group, an Akron company, to perform construction inspection and administration for the bridge removal project.

STREET REPLACEMENT

The city plans next year to replace the concrete road on Crescent Street from the bridge location about a mile north and west with asphalt and do drainage work, Shasho said.

“The street is in really bad condition and needs to be replaced,” he said.

Shasho didn’t have a cost estimate for the work.

Turner said: “I’m glad the road will be replaced. It’s in poor condition. We need to make sure we do regular improvements so we don’t have to do such big projects. We need to continue to make improvements. Once the project is completed, we need to maintain it.”

dskolnick@tribtoday.com