Roaring Fork School District Receives Revitalizing Main Streets Grant Award for Bridge Project

GARFIELD COUNTY- Roaring Fork School District received a Revitalizing Main Streets grant award of $149,999.00 from the Colorado Department of Transportation for the Ironbridge Development Trail Project. The grant award will support connecting the Rio Grande Trail to the Ironbridge Community in Glenwood Springs by restoring a historic bridge to allow pedestrian use. A photo of the Hardwick Bridge is below. This bridge, which currently serves no function, will provide a crossing point over the Roaring Fork River for the trail and allow pedestrian and bike traffic to access planned commercial establishments and a new school facility.

“I’m proud of the community work to restore the historic Hardwick Bridge. We are excited to help make this project successful as it will forge a new connection between the Rio Grande Trail and the Ironbridge Community, giving residents and visitors to Glenwood Springs a safe and accessible way to reach both the new school and stores and restaurants,” said Governor Jared Polis.

“This project will create a safe and accessible connection to active transportation routes in Glenwood Springs,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We’re also thrilled that this historic bridge will be refurbished and reimagined to serve a purpose in the community once again. This builds on the tremendous success that Glenwood Springs has already achieved through the Revitalizing Main Streets program.”

"The Roaring Fork School District and Garfield County are extremely excited to rehabilitate the old Hardwick Bridge which will be used for a bike and pedestrian friendly trail,” said Chief Operating Officer of Roaring Fork Schools Jeff Gatlin. “This trail will greatly serve the nearby housing communities that currently lack a safe means of accessing the Rio Grande Trail."

Current photo of the Hardwick Bridge, which is currently inaccessible, over the Roaring Fork River

The Revitalizing Main Streets grants help localities improve their roadways and community infrastructure, supporting strong economic activity and public safety. The program began last summer in an effort to mitigate the negative economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. Awarded projects span the entire state, from Denver and Boulder to Hugo and Limon to Frisco and Rifle. A full list of recipients is available here. Highlights include numerous projects facilitating safe pedestrian access to outdoor dining, improved lighting, sidewalk repair, incorporating “parklets” into streetscapes, and much more.

The continuation and expansion of this program was made possible through a $30 million allocation from the state legislature in March 2021 and those funds are currently available for local government competition, with significant anticipated demand. Importantly, the passage of SB-260 further extends this highly successful program beyond the current grant cycle. 

For more information, visit the Revitalizing Main Streets page.