HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 APPROVE THE REDESIGN OF THE ARMSTRONG AVENUE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGEDocusign Envelope ID: E558271 E-OF72-4C7A-B31 B-3F4F8OB87371
MEETING DATE
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Agenda Item
AGENDA REPORT Reviewed:
City Manager
Finance Director
MARCH 3, 2026
ALDO E. SCHINDLER, CITY MANAGER
MICHAEL GRISSO, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
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SUBJECT: APPROVE THE REDESIGN OF THE ARMSTRONG AVENUE
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
SUMMARY:
Two redesign alternatives for the Armstrong Avenue Pedestrian Bridge were evaluated in
an effort to align construction costs with the project budget. The staff supported
recommendation is made by an Ad Hoc Committee composed of Councilmember
Gallagher and Mayor Lumbard.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve design Alternative No. 2 for the Armstrong
Avenue Pedestrian Bridge.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN:
The Armstrong Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Project contributes to the fulfillment of the City's
Strategic Plan, Goal A: Economic and Neighborhood Development. Specifically, the
project implements Strategy 1, which among other items, is to develop critical phases of
Tustin Legacy. The Armstrong Avenue Pedestrian Bridge also contributes to the
implementation of Strategy 8, which creates linkages between the community through a
variety of means, such as bike lanes and greenbelts.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The City retained TY Lin International to provide design services for the Armstrong Avenue
Pedestrian Bridge. The project will be located north of the intersection at Armstrong Avenue
and Airship Avenue, where the settlement mounds have been constructed.
Docusign Envelope ID: E558271 E-OF72-4C7A-B31 B-3F4F8OB87371
City Council Agenda Report
Armstrong Bridge Selection Alternatives
March 3, 2026
Page 2
The Armstrong Pedestrian Bridge and Neighborhood D-South Phase 2 Package No. 2
projects were formally bid on September 30, 2025, with eight (8) responsive construction
bids received, ranging from $13,700,300 to $21,189,976, with the lowest responsive bidder
being 11 % higher than the engineer's estimate. On November 18, 2025, staff
recommended, and the City Council approved, the rejection of all project bids and directed
staff to evaluate opportunities to modify the design to better align with the project budget.
Staff have evaluated cost -saving opportunities and recommend the adjustments outlined
in tables Alternative No. 1 and 2 below. There are four overall cost -saving
recommendations, with three of the four included identically in both alternatives. The major
difference in design alternatives focuses on the design of the bridge railing. Alternative No.
1 provides simplified railing and reflects the greatest overall cost savings, while Alternative
No. 2 aims to balance reducing the railing cost while retaining the architectural design of
the original bridge (see Attachment No. 1).
Alternative No. 1
MODIFICATIONS
COST SAVINGS
Remove bridge deck planters
$200K
Standardize bridge support pillars
$200K
Reduce end monuments and simplify lighting
$550K
Railing system modification — Alt No.1
$2.6M
Estimated Cost Reduction
$3.55M
Engineer's Estimate to Construct
$6.5M
Alternative No. 2
MODIFICATIONS
COST SAVINGS
Remove bridge deck planters
$200K
Standardize bridge support pillars
$200K
Reduce end monuments and simplify lighting
$550K
Railing system modification — Alt No. 2
$1.9M
Estimated Cost Reduction
$2.85M
Engineer's Estimate to Construct
$7.4M
Upon receiving Council direction, staff will finalize plans and specifications and return to
City Council to request authorization to bid the project in summer 2026. Construction would
begin in Q4 2026, with overall bridge completion forecasted for Q2 2028.
Michael Grisso
Director of Public Works
Attachment:
1. Design Alternatives
Docusign Envelope ID: E558271 E-OF72-4C7A-B31 B-3F4F8OB87371
ATTACHMENT 1
Armstrong Avenue Pedestrian Bridge: Design Alternatives