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Officials Unveil Options for Glenwood Springs Bridge Replacement

by KREX News Room
by Danielle Kreutter

Story Created: Aug 22, 2012 at 10:33 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 23, 2012 at 7:57 AM MDT

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo.- The city of Glenwood Springs wants to improve its busiest bridge with a whole new look.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the bridge serves more than 30,000 drivers a day, but because it's old and outdated, officials are planning to replace the entire thing.

An open house was held Wednesday, where project officials presented two options to replace the popular Glenwood Springs Bridge on Grand Avenue. It is nearly six decades old.

"We've heard a lot of good input about the alternatives. Alternative 1, a lot of people like it because there's really no change," said Tom Newland, a Grand Avenue Bridge project spokesperson.

The first alternative would replace the bridge exactly where it stands now. "The support for Alternative 1 is usually centered around keeping the status quo, keeping the bridge where it is," said Joe Elson with the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Construction for that project would be more difficult. "It's certainly tricky to replace a bridge right in its current location," said Elson.

The second option is Alternative 3. "Alternative 3 gives you a direct connection from downtown and I-70, something that we don't have now," said Newland.

Diverting that traffic has raised concerns with another group. "The businesses along Sixth Street will no longer have 30,000 vehicles per day that they have now in front of their businesses," said Newland. "Many of those business owners feel that will really disrupt their business."

Project officials say they are still collecting public input before choosing a final alternative, which they hope to do in the fall.

Transportation officials also tell NewsChannel 5 the next open house is planned for November. They will talk about what type of design the community would like to see for the replacement bridge.

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