Demolition of spans of the Rock Island Swing Bridge on the Washington County side of the Mississippi River will begin as early as next week after commissioners voted Tuesday to award the job to a Rogers company.

"It's collapsing under its own weight right now," said Don Theisen, the county's chief engineer.

Submitting the lowest quote at $1.4 million was Veit, a contracting firm with experience in large-scale demolitions. Veit also is working on the Wakota Bridge project on I-494. The contract specifies that Veit will stay on its construction schedule for Wakota while dismantling the Rock Island bridge, at St. Paul Park, said Wayne Sandberg, the county's deputy engineer.

Demolition of the Dakota County portion of the bridge at Inver Grove Heights is expected this summer unless the National Park Service finds a way to incorporate some spans into a walking trail along the river. The Veit contract includes removal on the Dakota County side.

The original cost estimate for removal, Sandberg told commissioners, ranged from $2 million to $5.5 million.

Other companies submitting quotes were Lunda Construction Co. at $4.7 million and Carl Bolander and Sons at $1.8 million. The county had invited six companies to submit quotes.

"I'm amazed at the variance in these bids," said Myra Peterson, board chair.

Commissioner Dennis Hegberg said that some construction companies that weren't invited to bid for the demolition questioned the county's invitation-only approach. Sandberg replied that the county didn't want "to open the floodgates" to contractors in a long bidding process after commissioners had, in December, approved the emergency removal.

No contractors attended Tuesday's meeting. The vote to approve the contract with Veit passed with little discussion.

IN OTHER ACTION:

SEVERAL WASHINGTON COUNTY RESIDENTS who own land inside the mapping boundaries of the Big Marine Park Reserve told the board they want to be removed from the map. Their attorney, Song Lo Fawcett of St. Paul, told commissioners that landowners object to restrictions that subject them to a permitting process whenever they want to make changes on their land. One resident, Brent Reibel of Lomond Trail N., said permits and fees to build a new house cost him $40,000 "and four years of stress."

The county's master plan includes the private property for possible park acquisition if the landowners ever decide to sell. But Commissioner Bill Pulkrabek asked why the landowners couldn't be freed from the restrictions.

Commissioners sent the issue to the county's planning advisory commission for review.

STAFF AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY want to involve residents in the discussion of a book entitled, "Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct" by P.M. Forni. The idea is that residents can improve the quality of their relationships and lives by choosing to be more considerate, courteous and polite, said Joe Manion, one of the librarians involved with the project.

The program will run during March and April and will culminate in a community discussion with Forni on April 21. Details are available on the county library website: www.co.washington.mn.us/info_for_residents/library/

Kevin Giles • 612-673-4432