Future of the Fifth Avenue bridge is up for discussion
By Terry Murry on Monday, December 13th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla City Council will meet at 4 p.m. today (Monday) for a work session. On the agenda, a discussion regarding support of a grant application for the removal of the Fifth Avenue bridge over Mill Creek and replacing it with a bicycle/pedestrian bridge and add fish passage enhancements to that section of the Mill Creek Channel.
This discussion differs from the initial one in February. First, city staff is looking to seek council support to partner with the Tri-State Steelheaders and the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board for funding through the Washington State Fish Barrier Removal Board. As such, the Tri-State Steelheaders would be the lead agency and not the city. Second, the scope of this grant pursuit will include replacement of the existing vehicular bridge with a bicyclist and pedestrian bridge. The council will be asked to consider a resolution supporting the pursuit of grant funding at Wednesday’s regular meeting.
The grant application, which is due January 13, 2022, is seeking no local match, however some participation from the city may be necessary to accommodate the bicycle/foot bridge, such as lighting, sidewalks, and other features. The Fifth Avenue bridge is at the end of its useful life and is in poor condition, according to Walla Walla Transportation Engineer Monte Puymon.
The council will also discuss proposed landfill rate modifications for 2022-2023. The discussion will address three issues. First, adding retail and wholesale rates for unscreened compost. The recommendation is to set new rates for unscreened compost. Unscreened compost costs less to produce than screened compost, therefore a lower rate for the unscreened compost is proposed.
The second proposal is reducing the vehicle weighing rate from $46.30 to $10.30. The new two-scale in-and-out system has a much higher throughput capacity than the old single in-and-out scale, which supports lowering the cost.
The third change would roughly double the rate for tractor and heavy equipment tires to better match market rates and establish a bulk, per-ton tire disposal rate for tire loads of 20 or more tires. Tire disposal is often subsidized by other rates to discourage improper disposal. However, the low cost combined with the lack of a bulk rate have resulted in truckloads of tires being brought to the landfill for disposal from businesses, such as junkyards, rather than through direct contract with a tire recycler.
Today’s work session can be viewed on the city’s website and via Zoom. The ID number is 891 1554 1274.
