Stakeholder Groups Provided Feedback on Grand Avenue Bridge Project Design Features
At an all-day work session on March 12, the Design Elements Issue Task Force saw presentations by the project’s bridge architect, structural engineer, designer, and landscape architect. The following day, members of the Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) and the public had opportunities to see the same information at afternoon and evening workshops. The project team reviewed how the input already received at previous SWG workshops, public open houses, and City Council meetings had influenced the options they had developed for these meetings. All of the discussions touched on options for finishes and materials that will contribute to how the project would fit the Glenwood Springs historic and community character
The discussion about the elevators and stairs that connect the new pedestrian bridge to 7th Street included an update on a joint workshop with the Downtown Development Authority on March 5 to collaborate about layout options and the planned plaza area on 7th Street. Input was asked on the pros and cons of two layouts for loading (doors facing north-south or east-west), the elevator tower, the staircase with bicycle track, uses for the area under the staircase, and location of the restrooms.
Two concepts for the area under the Grand Avenue Bridge between 7th and 8th Streets included lighting options; visual connections to 7th Street, the pedestrian bridge, and 8th Street; the abutment wall; alley connections; and options for the Wing Street area after it is closed to vehicular traffic.
Discussions about the new pedestrian bridge revolved around options for overlook areas, shape and positioning of piers, railing, and lighting. The bridge architect explained the two types of structures for the vehicular Grand Avenue Bridge and how they would be built. There was a lot of interest in how its lighting and piers would tie in with the new pedestrian bridge and what could be included to protect the pedestrian area between 7th and 8th Streets from snow, dirt, drainage, etc.
Two main project areas north of I-70 were discussed—landscaping at the end of the westbound I-70 off ramp where motorists would experience a change from the interstate to the entryway to Glenwood Springs, and areas at either end of the pedestrian/bicycle underpass connecting Two Rivers Trail to 6th Street. Opportunities for aesthetic treatments and landscaping for many of the proposed project’s walls were also discussed.
The presentation from the Issue Task Force meeting and meeting summaries are posted at CDOT’s project website: http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/sh82grandavenuebridge.
A second round of meetings is planned for April where the project team will present any revisions made based on the input received last week. The study team also will meet with the SWG on April 10 at the Glenwood Springs Community Center.
Those wanting to receive project updates can sign up via CDOT’s free message system by going to www.coloradodot.info and clicking on green cell phone in the upper right hand side of the page. After signing in, scroll down to “Projects” and choose “SH 82 Aspen to Glenwood.”
The project is funded through the Colorado Bridge Enterprise, a government-owned business entity within CDOT. The Colorado General assembly created the statewide Bridge Enterprise via Senate Bill 09-108, also known as FASTER (Funding Advancements for Surface Treatment and Economic Recovery www.coloradodot.info/projects/faster).The purpose of the Bridge Enterprise is to complete designated bridge projects that involve the financing, repair, reconstruction and replacement of bridges designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and rated “poor” by CDOT.
