MONROE - Arnold & O'Sheridan Inc., an engineering consulting firm from Madison, was called in for an updated safety evaluation of the downtown Monroe parking ramp Tuesday.
Preliminary findings showed "little change," Engineering Supervisor Al Gerber said Tuesday.
The update is the first look on the ramp's condition since Arnold and O'Sheridan completely evaluated it in May 2012. A full update report is expected by the end of the month.
The inspection will identify the ramp's safety and liability risk, "if left in place as is, through 2014," Gerber said.
Gerber did not expect many more problems with the ramp to come to light during the second revaluation, but he said, "It's hard to tell."
The city blocked off as many as 25 parking spaces, most on the ground floor, during the 2012 Cheese Days. Gerber said the precaution was taken based on the ramp being fully utilized. The three-level ramp, built in the mid-1960s, has a parking capacity for about 220 vehicles.
Mayor Bill Ross requested the safety inspection in a memo to city aldermen Dec. 4. He instructed Gerber to have the ramp inspected and Gerber and Street Supervisor Tom Boll to block off any areas that may be a potential problem.
In his memo, Ross wrote, "Our first responsibility is public safety, but we also need to protect our city from liability issues."
Ross noted the parking ramp use increases "during this time of the year." Drivers often park their vehicles in the ramp during winter snows, and vehicles are required to be off the Square for early morning snowplowing.
The mayor made his request after learning a jury in late November found a manufacturer, a construction firm and Milwaukee County each partially responsible for the death of a 15-year-old in 2010, when an exterior concrete panel fell from a downtown Milwaukee parking garage. Two other people were injured also in the incident.
Monroe is in the process of sprucing up the old ramp with fresh paint, brighter lighting and new window panes, and has plans to replace it after the 100th Anniversary of Cheese Days in September 2014.
Preliminary findings showed "little change," Engineering Supervisor Al Gerber said Tuesday.
The update is the first look on the ramp's condition since Arnold and O'Sheridan completely evaluated it in May 2012. A full update report is expected by the end of the month.
The inspection will identify the ramp's safety and liability risk, "if left in place as is, through 2014," Gerber said.
Gerber did not expect many more problems with the ramp to come to light during the second revaluation, but he said, "It's hard to tell."
The city blocked off as many as 25 parking spaces, most on the ground floor, during the 2012 Cheese Days. Gerber said the precaution was taken based on the ramp being fully utilized. The three-level ramp, built in the mid-1960s, has a parking capacity for about 220 vehicles.
Mayor Bill Ross requested the safety inspection in a memo to city aldermen Dec. 4. He instructed Gerber to have the ramp inspected and Gerber and Street Supervisor Tom Boll to block off any areas that may be a potential problem.
In his memo, Ross wrote, "Our first responsibility is public safety, but we also need to protect our city from liability issues."
Ross noted the parking ramp use increases "during this time of the year." Drivers often park their vehicles in the ramp during winter snows, and vehicles are required to be off the Square for early morning snowplowing.
The mayor made his request after learning a jury in late November found a manufacturer, a construction firm and Milwaukee County each partially responsible for the death of a 15-year-old in 2010, when an exterior concrete panel fell from a downtown Milwaukee parking garage. Two other people were injured also in the incident.
Monroe is in the process of sprucing up the old ramp with fresh paint, brighter lighting and new window panes, and has plans to replace it after the 100th Anniversary of Cheese Days in September 2014.