Mulberry Bridge back to two-way traffic starting Friday

October 13, 2015 - Northeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 4 - FORT COLLINS – During the day, potentially every day this week, travelers on Mulberry Bridge over the Poudre River will have to deal with the headache of one-lane traffic westbound into town. But that is needed so crews can prepare the road for what many Fort Collins residents have been waiting for: two-way traffic finally back!

At the end of the day Friday, Mulberry will again have four lanes open – two westbound and two eastbound.

Since September 2014, eastbound Mulberry Street traffic has been detoured around the work zone. Both eastbound and westbound Mulberry Street traffic will be subject to single lane closures between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. for final bridge and road work through November.

Also at the end of the day Friday, pedestrian traffic will be permitted on the south side of the new bridge. On-street bicycle lanes will also be available.

Crews will continue to construct a portion of the Poudre Trail under the east side of the bridge. Until this section is complete in November, trail users will continue to have access across Mulberry Street via the traffic signal at Lemay Avenue.

Flatiron Constructors Inc. anticipates completing the project on-time in November 2015, weather permitting. Remaining work includes completing median construction, roadway tie-in work, lighting, trail construction underneath the bridge and various bridge finishing items.

By the numbers:

  • Width of the original bridge (circa 1949) – 64 feet

  • Width of the new bridge - 124 feet (almost twice the width)

  • Change in bridge elevation (height), measured from the finished surface – approximately 4 feet higher

  • Total project cost - $9.6 million

Background:

Built in 1949, the original bridge was structurally deficient and warranted replacement as part of the Colorado Bridge Enterprise (CBE). Unfortunately, many of Colorado's bridges are in disrepair or poor condition (more than 120 across the state), many of which are used every day. Replacing this bridge will not only create a safer ride for motorists, but also create a more efficient transportation system to support economic and job growth in the area.

The total cost of the construction project is approximately $9.6 million. Funds are part of the CBE, which was formed in 2009 as part of the FASTER (Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery) legislation. The purpose of the CBE is to finance, repair, reconstruct and replace bridges designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and rated in poor condition. This additional transportation funding is essential to allowing CDOT to better maintain and improve the safety of our bridges.

Visit the project website at http://www.codot.gov/projects/SH14PoudreRiver for more information including traffic impacts and detours.

If you have questions or concerns, call the project information line at 970-889-6950 or send an email to: [email protected].


Real-time traveler information also is available via CDOT Mobile.  It includes highway and traffic conditions and speeds, allowing drivers to make better travel decisions.  CDOT Mobile is free and available by downloading CDOT Mobile from the App Store or texting “CDOT” to 25827.