2022-004) Allowable Activities Management?s response and corrective action is as follows: After reviewing the project scope, along with the U. S. Treasury Final Rule, the City-Parish believes that the bridge replacement is an allowable use of funds. Twin Oaks bridge was closed in 2015 in a very ...
2022-004) Allowable Activities Management?s response and corrective action is as follows: After reviewing the project scope, along with the U. S. Treasury Final Rule, the City-Parish believes that the bridge replacement is an allowable use of funds. Twin Oaks bridge was closed in 2015 in a very rural area. During the pandemic it became evident that citizens were unable to access healthcare quickly with the bridge closure. In addition, the bridge is causing major drainage issues in the Baker Canal. The replacement bridge will use watertight expansion joints so that all surface water can drain off the structure and collect in inlets placed at the bridge ends. The downstream ends of bridges need special attention which will collect and concentrate the stormwater away from the bridge. The concentrated flow will be directed into a low-risk erosion area. All runoff shall be directed away from wing walls, fill slopes, and embankments, so that no material is susceptible to erosion. Bridge drains are designed to reduce the amount of concentrated flows off a structure. The replacement of the bridge allows the Parish to address the subsurface drainage issues as well as respond to the public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic. U.S. Treasury has specifically enumerated the flexibility provided under this expenditure category in the Final Rule excerpt: (second paragraph on the page 4411) ?Although the meaning of water and sewer infrastructure for purposes of sections 602(c)(1)(D) and 603(c)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act does not include all water-related uses, Treasury has made clear in this final rule that investments to infrastructure include a wide variety of projects. Treasury interprets the word ``infrastructure?? in this context broadly to mean the underlying framework or system for achieving the given public purpose, whether it be provision of drinking water or management of wastewater or stormwater. As discussed below, this can include not just storm drains and culverts for the management of stormwater, for example, but also bioretention basins and rain barrels implemented across a watershed, including on both public and private property, that together reduce the amount of runoff that needs to be managed by traditional infrastructure.? Expected Implementation Date: June 2023 Contact person: Tom Stephens, Chief Engineer, Transportation and Drainage Department Angie Savoy, Assistant Director, Finance Department