CDOT releases preliminary schedule for Grand Avenue Bridge

The phases follow key points in the construction process and can generally be described as follows:

PHASE 1:

Construction during Phase 1 (January and February of 2016) will include the following:

• Remove restrooms and existing walls under vehicle bridge

• Install temporary wall for caisson/substructure work on eastbound I-70

• Install temporary wall and excavate for caissons between Railroad Tracks and 7th Street.

• Install caissons between Railroad tracks and 7th Street, including load test of east caisson

• Install temporary walkway on vehicle bridge

• Install southern causeway down to pier locations near river (must be done by March 1st)

• Start temp shoring wall/excavation on north abutment ped bridge

• Start temp shoring wall/excavation on north abutment vehicle bridge

• Install ped walkway to shoring wall from vehicle bridge to 6th Street

• Construct cul-de-sac near east end of Glenwood Hot Springs parking lot in anticipation of closing parking lot

• Switch pedestrian traffic over river and I-70 to temporary walkway, concluding Phase 1 construction

Expected traffic and pedestrian impacts during Phase 1 are as follows:

• Pedestrian access during Phase 1 will remain in its current configuration in the downtown, Hot Springs area with the exception of the sidewalk along the south side of Seventh Street under the bridge.

• The Hot Springs Pool parking lot will be closed starting the beginning of February.  This closure will last Until late January 2018

• River Street (the frontage road between the Hot Springs Pool and I-70) will remain open with some occasional closures for placement of the temporary walkway, until the closure of the Hot Springs Pool Parking Lot at which time River Street will be closed. Sixth Street, Laurel Street, and SH 82 on the west side of the Hot Springs Pool will remain open in its existing configuration.

• Eastbound I-70 will experience one-lane closures, starting in mid-January to install the temporary wall and platform that the pedestrian bridge and traffic bridge will be constructed from.  All lanes will remain open on westbound I-70, but there will be a few night closures of the westbound lanes for the installation of the temporary pedestrian walkway.

• 7th Street will have single lane closures required for construction of substructure at pier 6.  Intermittent full closures may be needed for material delivery, concrete pours, ingress/egress and to safely perform the work.

PHASE 2:

Construction during Phase 2 (March 2016 to January 2017) will include the following:

• Complete shoring excavation for various retaining walls and the North Ped Bridge Abutment

• Ped Bridge (demolish existing bridge, install caissons and girders, construct new pedestrian bridge, install fencing on bridge, install elevators and building on south end, open pedestrian bridge).

• Vehicle Bridge (Install caissons, construct sub-structure – north of the River)  

• Drainage (Install all drainage without utility or roadway conflicts north of River, install new drainage in downtown section)

• Excavate and install Pedestrian Tunnel

• Excavate, shore & construct various retaining walls:

• Backfill and start road construction of areas that are ready

• River Road, New alignment Grand Avenue, I-70 WB Off-Ramp Concrete Paving, New roadway south of I-70 WB off-ramp (East half of roadway)

• Install all utilities into their final alignment and under the pedestrian bridge

Expected traffic and pedestrian impacts during Phase 2 are as follows:

• Pedestrian Access:  SH 82 to 6th – Mostly in current alignment, but will need to shift some due to construction requirements;  Crossing over river, I-70 - temporary pedestrian bridge next to Grand Avenue; 7th Street – Northside sidewalk closed by Vehicle Bridge/Ped Bridge, south side open.

• Hot Springs Pool parking lot will be closed as work on ped bridge and vehicle bridge is conducted.

• River Street will be closed.  A cul-de-sac will be placed near the east end of parking lot for turn-around of vehicles accessing Hot Springs Pool.

• The Sixth and Laurel intersection will be open in existing configuration, with nightly/weekend lane closures for installation of utilities.

• I-70 will experience occasional full closures at night for pedestrian bridge demolition, girder erection and possible bridge deck pours. Eastbound traffic will go down to single lane for installation caissons and pedestrian bridge work.  Westbound traffic will be open in the existing configuration with some lane closures for utility/drainage installation.

PHASE 3:

Construction during Phase 3 (February 2017 – August 2017) will include the following:

• Pedestrian Bridge - install any finishes that aren’t complete when open

• Vehicle Bridge, North of River:  construct any unfinished sub-structure; install girders, pour deck, install parapet and finishes, install masonry

• Pre-build forms required for work during bridge closure

• Install remaining drainage that doesn’t have roadway conflicts

• Install masonry and finishes on walls that have been constructed; excavate and construct remaining walls; add finishes to remaining walls

• Complete backfill and roadway construction on River Road, new alignment of Grand Avenue (other than what can’t be done until shutdown), and I-70 westbound off-ramp

• Construction of 8th Street detour (June 2017 – August, 2017):  remove UPRR spur tracks; excavate and build detour connection of 8th street; patch existing bridge;  upgrade guardrail on existing bridge; construct intersection improvements; mill & fill Midland Avenue; widen Exit 114 I-70 ramps; roundabout improvements for detour; mill/fill downtown roads for detour

Expected traffic and pedestrian impacts during Phase 3 are as follows:

• River Street will be closed, but will have cul-de-sac near east end of parking lot for turn-around of vehicles at the Hot Springs Pool

• Hot Springs Pool parking lot will be closed, crews will be working on new traffic bridge.  

• 6th Street, Laurel Street, and SH 82 will be open in existing configuration, with nightly/weekend lane closures as necessary for construction

• I-70 will have full closures at night for traffic bridge girder erection and deck pour.  Eastbound traffic mostly open, down to single lane for installation of northern causeway August 1st; westbound traffic mostly open, down to single lane for construction of I-70 westbound off-ramp at Exit 116

• 7th Street will have single lane closures required for construction of substructure at pier 6.  Intermittent full closures may be needed for material delivery, concrete pours, ingress/egress and to safely perform the work.

• Midland Avenue will be open in existing configuration (though we will be constructing the 8th Street detour at this time, see detour phase for this work)

• Exit 114 westbound will be open in existing configuration (though will be constructing the 8th street detour at this time, see detour phase for this work); eastbound will be  open in existing configuration (though will be constructing the 8th street detour at this time, see detour phase for this work)

• During detour construction:  pedestrian access should mostly remain the same but there will be some sidewalk closures during the construction of the 8th street connection; Midland Avenue will be mostly open but will need lane closures at night to do the round-a-bouts and the mill/fill; 8th Street will be open but might need some closures of access roads during construction of the detour; will need to close lanes during the construction at intersection; I-70 ramps will need shoulder closures/width reduction to construct the widenings.

PHASE 4:

Construction during Phase 4 (August 2017 – December 2017) will include the following:

• Construct north causeway down to river for piers and have ready for construction starting August 15th

• Vehicle bridge demo will start at pier near 7th street and work north and south; construct remaining portion of bridge to open as quickly as possible; will open once it is safe to have traveling public on bridge

• Install any remaining drainage during shutdown

• Excavate, shore & construct sections of walls not constructed in phase 2

• Reconstruct Grand Avenue north and south of bridge; open to traffic as soon as it is ready

• Hot Springs Pool parking lot:  regrade, place base, install curb & gutter, pave, prepare to open to public when completed

Expected traffic and pedestrian impacts during Phase 4 are as follows:

• Pedestrian access: SH82 to 6th Street– through ped tunnel with some switches for the road construction; across I70, Colorado River & UPRR – on new ped bridge; 7th Street – sidewalk will be closed underneath bridge on both sides of road

• Hot Springs Pool parking lot closed for staging materials as well as completion of north abutment removal and parking lot re-construction.

• River street will be closed, will have cul-de-sac near east end of parking lot for turn-around of vehicles to the Hot Springs Pool

• 6th Street, Laurel Street, will be open in reduced lanes so we can construct the new interchange, we plan on one lane in each direction for duration of shutdown.  There will be significantly less traffic in this area during the bridge shutdown/detour phase of the project.

• I-70 Eastbound - will need to take down to one lane for installation of some items and work but should be mostly open; nightly closures for bridge demolition; westbound – open in existing configuration with nightly closures for bridge demolition

• 7th Street will be closed at the streets east and west of Grand Avenue for duration

• 8th Street detour is open during this phase

PHASE 5:

Construction during Phase 5 (January 2018 – May 2018) will include the following:

• River work: includes removal of both causeways, installation of permanent rip-rap and slope revegetation

• Vehicle bridge (now open to traffic):  install masonry, fence, lighting and other finishes, will need nightly closures for some work; depending on timing might also need to complete barrier; complete all finishes

• Excavate, shore & construct remaining walls

• Road construction:  finish remaining roadwork on new alignment, do not anticipate much probably much more than median work; build I-70 eastbound on-ramp after wall is completed; Reconstruct 7th Street during a week in December (concrete paving, plan to use fast track concrete to open sooner)

• Finish Hot Springs Pool parking lot including paving

• Complete ITS and roadway electrical work

• Remove 8th Street detour and re-grade to previous grades

Expected traffic and pedestrian impacts during Phase 5 are as follows:

• Pedestrian access: SH-82 to 6th Street – final location with switches as needed for construction; new ped bridge & path open; 7th Street – sidewalk will be closed due to overhead safety critical work underneath bridge on both sides of street until we have completed striping, patching and finishing of bridge.

• Hot Springs Pool parking lot – open when completed River Street will be open, but might need occasional closures to complete work

• 6th Street, Laurel Street, SH 82 will be open with potential of night closures

• I-70 eastbound down to one lane for removal of northern causeway installation of retaining wall and widening of eastbound on-ramp; westbound will be open in existing configuration

• 7th Street will be closed at the streets east and west of grand avenue until our work under bridge is complete and road is reconstructed.

CDOT and Granite/RL Wadsworth Joint Venture greatly appreciate your patience and cooperation while going through the work zone and when using the detour. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone.

Those with questions or concerns about the project, or who want to receive updates on the project as it is constructed, may call, message or email Tom Newland, CDOT Project Public Information Manager, at (970) 618-9922, tom@newlandprojectresources.com.

To receive project updates via e-mail, visit www.codot.gov/projects/sh82grandavenuebridge and click on the green cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner. Once you've subscribed (FREE), see "Projects" and then choose the project name "SH 82 Grand Avenue Bridge”.