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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBridge_Courier_03/10/2010Community News Lieutenant governor gets look at Tequesta Drive Bridge work BY KIT BRADSHAW kit.bradshaw@scripps.com In a whirlwind tour of Tequesta Drive Bridge, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kott- kamp cited the importance of the new bridge to the community. "The old bridge was deteriorat- ing and it was necessary to rebuild this bridge, which connects half of the community to the other half," Kottkamp said Monday morning. "Because the project was part of the federal stimulus funds, the village didn't have to pay for the bridge from its funds. This is a model of cooperation among the federal government, the state and the local community, which had been planning to replace the bridge before the stimulus money was available. "We hope to have more federal money for transportation and other projects in Florida. If we could just get five cents on the dollar more, we could do so many more projects like this bridge," Kottkamp said. The project received $3 mil- lion from federal funds. Florida Department of Transportation and consulting engineers AIM Engineering are overseeing the work being done by Sheltra & Son of Indiantown, the bridge contractors. "The deadline we are all work- ing toward is Aug. 6," said Mike Couzzo, the village manager. "But I'd like to see us be able to have vehicle traffic on the bridge by July 4, then continue on working on the sidewalks and the decora- tive items that show this bridge to be a Tequesta Bridge, not just another FDOT project." The village has a $2,000 -a -day incentive for the contractor to complete the bridge early, and part of the negotiations on open- ing the bridge to vehicular traffic would be determining whether this incentive would be paid at that time, Couzzo said. The construction costs of the KIT BRADSHAW • kit.bradshaw@scripps.com Above: Workers from Sheltra & Son set up for pile driving on the Tequesta Drive Bridge that is under construction over the North Fork of the Loxahatchee River. Below: Lt. Gov. Jeff KottKamp, left, talks with Tequesta village councilors Jim Humpage, second from left, Vince Arena and Mayor Pat Watkins before touring the Tequesta Drive Bridge that is under construction. bridge are $2.4 million, accord- ing to the Sheltra & Son winning bid. In addition to the hard costs, such items as consulting fees and design fees bring the cost closer to $3 million. But, as Couzzo points out, the original FDOT estimate for the bridge construction was $4.2 million "and we're well below that estimate," he said. Because of the stimulus money, all items used on the bridge must be American made, Couzzo said, "from the smallest nail and screw to the largest items. "And, we are transporting the pieces of the old bridge to a site where they will be used to create an artificial reef." WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2010 • THE JUPITER COURIER • A3 KIT BRADSHAW • kit.bradshawgscripps.com Tequesta Councilor Vince Arena and landscape architect Connie Fisher stake one of 60 oak trees planted in Tequesta Park recently. New trees, tennis courts spruce up Tequesta Park BY KIT BRADSHAW kit.bradshaw@scripps.com Tequesta Park is sporting a new look, as the exotic trees and those damaged in hurricanes in 2005 have been removed In their place are more than 600 new trees, plus refurbished tennis courts. In addition, a paved walkway winds throughout the 45 acres which the Village of Tequesta leases from the State of Florida. The parcel of land was origi- nally part of Jonathan Dickin- son State Park, immediately to its north, according to Greg Corbitt, Tequesta parks and recreation director. The village was able to create the park's improvements through two $50,000 grants. "We had to create a detailed site plan," said landscape archi- tect Connie Fisher of Roy Fisher and Associates Landscape Archi- tects. "We did a survey of the residents on a Saturday here at the park and did a second sur- vey of the residents online to see what they wanted this park to be. The wanted trees, better tennis courts, space to play rugby, a dog area, and a perimeter walking trail. "We're still working on the designated dog area, but people love to walk their dogs in this park anyway." One of the best things about the improvements to Tequesta Park is that it was all done with local companies, Corbitt said. "Gary Goglia of Green Courts Inc. resurfaced the tennis courts, Craig Shook did the pavers and stones on the walking paths, Connie did the master plan, and Terracon did the installation of the 400 slash pines, 45 sabal palms, 100 coconut palms and 60 oak trees with planted and Wil- liam Murphy did the restroom improvements and the pavilion roof," Corbitt said. In addition to the work that the companies were paid to do, all of them worked countless hours without pay to complete the job in three weeks, Corbitt said. More changes are planned. "We're hoping to have com- munity gardens here as well," Fisher said. "And, of course we want a lot of flowers, too."