#3105 Federal and State Spending Idiocy

1. Pre-Construction and Planning

Feasibility Studies and Environmental Assessments
- Includes: Initial site surveys, traffic studies, wildlife or environmental impact analyses, soil testing, geological surveys, and public outreach.
- Approximate Cost: $250,000 – $600,000
Engineering and Design
- Includes: Detailed civil, structural, and environmental engineering; architectural planning; landscaping plans; drainage and irrigation plans; construction documents; permits.
- Approximate Cost: $1 million – $2 million
Permitting and Legal
- Includes: Permit application fees, legal consultations, right-of-way approvals, potential property acquisition costs, utility agreements, or other regulatory requirements.
- Approximate Cost: $200,000 – $500,000

2. Site Preparation

Land Clearing and Grading
- Includes: Removing vegetation at bridge abutments, grading approach ramps, preparing staging areas for heavy equipment, and possibly relocating or shifting existing utilities.
- Approximate Cost: $500,000 – $1 million
Temporary Traffic Control and Detours
- Includes: Lane closures, signage, potential construction of temporary bypass lanes, labor to manage traffic safely during construction.
- Approximate Cost: $750,000 – $1.5 million
Utility Relocation (if necessary)
- Includes: Shifting underground or overhead utilities, integrating new drainage or stormwater management systems.
- Approximate Cost: $250,000 – $750,000

3. Bridge Structure Construction

Foundations and Abutments
- Includes: Excavation, reinforced concrete footings, retaining walls, and abutments.
- Approximate Cost: $2 million – $4 million
Bridge Superstructure
- Includes: Girders (steel or precast concrete), deck formwork, concrete deck. A wide “landscape” deck might require additional structural support for soil loads.
- Approximate Cost: $3 million – $6 million
Approach Ramps and Earthworks
- Includes: Backfill, slope stabilization, retaining walls along approach ramps.
- Approximate Cost: $1 million – $2 million
Drainage and Irrigation Systems
- Includes: Runoff management, water conduits, pumps (if needed for irrigation), and integration with local stormwater systems.
- Approximate Cost: $400,000 – $800,000
Roadway and Shoulder Tie-Ins
- Includes: Transitioning pavement or shoulders to the new structure, ensuring proper grading around the overpass for safe travel and alignment.
- Approximate Cost: $300,000 – $700,000

4. Landscaping and Aesthetics

Topsoil and Turf
- Includes: Adding a sufficient layer of soil across the deck to sustain grass and/or other vegetation.
- Approximate Cost: $200,000 – $400,000
Planting and Seeding
- Includes: Seeding of grass, possible native plants or small shrubs, mulch, and erosion control measures.
- Approximate Cost: $150,000 – $300,000
Fencing and Barriers
- Includes: Fences along the edges to keep wildlife and pedestrians safe, plus any aesthetic railings.
- Approximate Cost: $100,000 – $300,000
Finishing and Aesthetic Enhancements
- Includes: Interpretive signage (if it’s a wildlife or pedestrian corridor), decorative elements, possible lighting (if required or desired), public art, or wayfinding signs.
- Approximate Cost: $150,000 – $300,000

5. Project Management, Contingency, and Soft Costs

Project Management and Administration
- Includes: Staffing costs for the owner (state DOT or other agency), on-site supervision, scheduling, project accounting, contract administration, inspections.
- Approximate Cost: $500,000 – $1 million
Contingency
- Includes: Covering unforeseen site conditions, weather-related issues, or supply chain disruptions. Often set as 10%–20% of the total project cost.
- Approximate Cost: $1.5 million – $4 million (depending on the final construction value)
Inspection, Testing, and Quality Assurance
- Includes: On-site materials testing (concrete, steel), environmental compliance checks, structural inspections, final approvals.
- Approximate Cost: $200,000 – $500,000

6. Potential Additional Costs

Wetland or Environmental Mitigation (if required): $100,000 – $500,000
Coordination with Utilities (electric, gas, telecom, etc.): $100,000 – $300,000
Design/Build vs. Traditional Bidding Overhead: Varies depending on contract delivery method.

Indicative Total Budget Range

Adding the ranges of the major categories (using a rough midpoint and accounting for contingencies) often brings the project to somewhere in the range of $12 million to $20+ million. For a simplified single-figure example, we might see a total budget land in the ballpark of $15 million. However, if soil conditions are difficult, traffic management is especially complex, or the design calls for heavy architectural or environmental features, the upper bound could increase substantially.

Example Roll-Up of Costs (Midrange Totals)

Pre-Construction and Planning: $2 million
Site Preparation: $2.25 million
Bridge Structure Construction: $10 million
Landscaping and Aesthetics: $1 million
Management, Contingency, Soft Costs: $2.75 million
**Approximate Total: $18 million

(Again, these are illustrative numbers and will vary widely by project.)

Conclusion

Building a 100-foot-wide, grass-covered overpass across a six-lane interstate is a complex undertaking involving engineering, environmental, safety, and traffic management considerations. The high-level budget must account for planning, site preparation, major structural elements (foundations, superstructure, deck), landscaping, irrigation, fencing, and the soft costs of project management, permitting, and contingencies. An indicative budget for such a project could reasonably fall between $12 million and $20 million or more, depending on regional labor and materials costs, site specifics, environmental requirements, and design complexities.

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