FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS
CONSTRUCTION COST: N/A
COMPLETION DATE: 1996 (study)
CLIENT: ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

During the 1993 flood, access to Calhoun County was severely impaired due to closure of two primary routes - the Brussels Ferry and the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin. Oates was hired to study the feasibility of various options for improved access.

Establishment of a reasonable scope was accomplished in part via the use of a scoping meeting which involved heads of all relevant public agencies with a stake in the outcome of the study. Our services included scheduling, preparation of agenda and presentation and conducting the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to establish project goals, evaluation measures and design criteria.

Data collection activities included assembling information from a number of public agencies, supplemental ground surveys and preparation of base maps. In all, six major alternates were studied. Our services included geometric, structural, hydraulic and geotechnical studies as well as preparation of cost estimates for the various alternates.

The project scope included conducting a public informational meeting, collecting input and developing any changes to alternates as a result of this input.

Alternates studied included a new bridge somewhere between Brussels Ferry and Hardin, Illinois, raising approach roads to the existing bridge and ferries, improvements to existing ferries and reconstruction of existing bridges. The report addressed traffic / access, economic, hydraulic and environmental impacts of proposed alternates. Cost vs. benefit analyses were prepared and cost effectiveness was measured for each alternate.