Replacing the Grand Avenue Bridge will not have a significant impact on the Glenwood Springs community. That's the finding after a federal review of the plan to replace the aging structure.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is leading the replacement project, which includes a wider and longer bridge. It would touch down further west on the north side of town, prompting a redesign and possible development in that part of Glenwood Springs. The Federal Highway Administration has found that although the project would affect the community, it does not need further environmental review.
"This is huge, you know we started this 3.5 years ago,” says CDOT Engineer Joe Elsen, who’s leading the project. “We're happy and it's an important project, we've got a poor bridge out there, it's over 60 years old, and it's time for it to be replaced."
The impact will include removing the bridge as a historic structure, and closing Highway 82 for around 3 months. That's in 2017. Construction on the project could begin early next year.
