4. Norfolk Southern Rail Road Bridge_COA 2021-0902

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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: September 14, 2021 Application Number: 2021-0902 Property Location: Norfolk Southern Railroad Trestle Bridge Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Trestle Bridge / ~1927 Property Owner: City of South Bend Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark, Ordinance #9234- 01 Rating: Outstanding DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE : A rail bridge at this location is believed to have been originally constructed in the mid 1890's by the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Railroad, otherwise known as the Chicago Indiana Southern. This rail company (most commonly referred to as the Three I's) arrived in South Bend in the mid 1800's. It is believed that the line running north through the west portion of South Bend curving to run parallel with Angela Street and ending at Notre Dame University was erected in the late 1880's or early 1890's. By 1895 that the Portage Avenue Bridge over the I. I. & I. R.R. was widened for ease of travel. By 1917 the line and bridge had been sold to the Michigan Central Railroad who owned the line until it was taken over by the New York Central. It is unknown whether Michigan Central or New York Central Railroad was responsible for demolishing the original bridge and replacing it with the new bridge in 1927. The bridge changed hands several more times before rail operations ceased. The structure is spans across the St. Joseph River, just north of the Angela Street Bridge in South Bend, Indiana. This is a deck plate girder bridge with four concrete supports, iron girder and plate deck. ALTERATIONS: N/A APPLICATION ITEMS: “The proposed project will convert the existing railroad bridge to a pedestrian bridge. The project will rehabilitate the bridge deck, superstructure, substrstuction and foundation. A new concrete deck with 14 foot clear roadway width will be placed on the existing beams. Pedestrian hand rail will be installed on new deck. Scour countermeasures consisting of Class 1 riprap will be placed at each of the piers to protect the foundations. A copy of the current design plans are attached to this application.” DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: 1. Remove existing: a. Rails and ties from the bridge top, b. Timber fenders from around the piers, c. Any debris that has accumulated on the substructure or around the piers, 2. Rehabilitate existing: a. Steel girders, by cleaning and repainting, b. Piers, by cleaning and patching the scaling and spalling, as well as epoxying cracks exhibiting efflorescence, 3. Construct/Add: a. New concrete beam seats with elastomeric bearing pads (to replace existing seal bearing assemblies), b. Concrete deck with 14’ clear ‘roadway’ atop the new beam seats/pads with a pedestrian handrail on either side of the deck, c. Overlooks on both sides at piers 3 and 6, d. 75’ linear feet of Class I riprap as scour countermeasures, distributed around the piers, This project entails extensive modifications to what is currently an unused and derelict bridge. This is one component of the larger “Coal Line Trail” project, linking the university campuses north of South Bend to the near west side of South Bend on a former rail line. Opportunities for interpretive signage will be discussed internally with City of South Bend stakeholders following the completion of the project.