Walking tour: Parking garage needs $2.9M in repairs

MEADVILLE Deferring maintenance for years on two adjoining parking decks in downtown Meadville has led to structural damage so severe an estimated $2.9 million in repairs is needed now to save them, according to the citys consulting engineer.

Ashley Porter of Porter Consulting Engineers gave Meadville City Council a walking tour of the Mill Run parking ramp Wednesday, pointing out both deteriorated columns and column seats that hold support beams as well as deteriorated parking decks themselves. Porter said the earthquake the region experienced several years ago also contributed to damage.

The Mill Run parking ramp is two separate structures built about 15 years apart, but joined.

The three-story Water Street section was built in 1978 as part of a redevelopment project along Water Street, while the three-story Market Street section was built in 1993. The upper decks of the Market Street section are accessible by the ramps of the Water Street section.

Years of exposure to the elements without proper sealing of the concrete has caused water to seep into the concrete, causing the concrete to pop or chip as the water expands and contracts with the temperature, Porter said.

Periodic work has been done over the years to brace columns and even replace some, but additional work needs to be done to either save or replace others, Porter said.

Porter estimates about $1.8 million worth of work is needed to save the Water Street portion of the parking deck, while about $1.1 million is needed for the Market Street portion.

The annual debt payment on the Mill Run parking ramp is $157,000, but the last payment is this year, according to Andy Walker, interim city manager.

The citys 2012 capital budget borrowing included $600,000 for parking deck repairs including the Mill Run parking ramp. Stairs on the northeast corner of the Market Street section were reconstructed completely this year at $73,000 with additional deck repairs also made.

About $482,000 remains in the capital budget, Walker said.

See the article here:
Walking tour: Parking garage needs $2.9M in repairs