8th Street Connection Work to Begin Soon

CDOT project necessary for Grand Avenue Bridge Detour in 2017

Comments/Concerns

For comments and concerns on the acceleration of the schedule for the 8th Street detour, please contact:

  • Tom Newland
    CDOT Project Public Information Manager
    PO Box 4815
    Basalt, CO 81621
    [email protected]

Comments will be accepted until Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

About the CBE

The Colorado Bridge Enterprise (CBE) was formed in 2009 as part of the FASTER (Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery) legislation. It operates as a government-owned business within CDOT. The Colorado Transportation Commission serves as the CBE Board.

The purpose of the CBE is to finance, repair, reconstruct, and replace bridges designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and rated "poor." Learn more.

GARFIELD COUNTY/GLENWOOD SPRINGS—The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) plans to open the 8th Street detour route earlier than originally anticipated.

The detour along 8th Street is part of the overall Grand Avenue Bridge Project, and is needed to provide a more direct connection of Midland Avenue to SH 82/Grand Avenue during the approximate 90-day closure of the Grand Avenue Bridge, scheduled for fall 2017. The City of Glenwood Springs plans to use the temporary detour later to help complete its permanent 8th Street Connection project.

The original construction phasing schedule reflected during the environmental assessment (EA) process anticipated the 8th Street Connection to be constructed in summer 2017. It is now proposed that the construction occur in summer/fall 2016, as this would reduce congestion due to the intermittent closures of 7th Street between Colorado and Cooper avenues that will occur during construction.

Speeding up the construction schedule would also improve pedestrian safety by reducing the number of vehicles traveling along this portion of 7th Street. However, because the detour will be open longer than anticipated, temporary impacts from traffic along the detour route will occur for a longer period than described in the EA.

Approvals for the 8th Street connection are being negotiated with the Union Pacific Railroad and Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), and construction on the detour could begin as early as August. The 8th Street project will require removal of the railroad tracks and bed, and placement of a two-lane road with associated drainage improvements. Modifications will also be made to maintain bicycle access to the Rio Grande Trail.

In addition to placement of the 8th Street Connection, CDOT will be making approximately $1.7 million in improvements to local streets along the detour route and to the 8th Street Bridge over the Roaring Fork River.