CO-82 / Glenwood Springs / Grand Avenue Bridge Project Has Begun

[thenetwork]

Work on the 30-month project to replace and realign the CO-82 Grand Avenue Bridge over I-70 and the Colorado River has begun.

Thus far, ROW is being cleared around I-70 Exit 116 to construct a new roundabout which will serve existing N. River Road, 6th St, Laurel St., and a connecting road to the relocated CO-82/Grand Avenue Bridge which will more or less become a direct connection to I-70.

What is interesting about this project is that while traffic will be maintained and squeezed even more over the existing Grand Avenue Bridge, which basically connects Glenwood Springs, Aspen and everything in-between, but there will be a 3-month period in 2017 when all CO-82 and upper-valley traffic will be detoured onto a narrow 2-lane Midland Avenue via 2-lane streets off of Grand Avenue and I-70 Exit 114 (West Glenwood) -- this in order to "connect" the new bridge with existing Grand Avenue.

To say the least, this will be a big headache for those wanting to connect with I-70 and the upper Roaring Fork Valley locations, and especially bad during ski season as it will more or less be the only direct way in & out to I-70 and points east as CO-82 over Independence Pass is closed in the winter, but it will make a more direct connection to I-70, eliminating some traffic signals and turns.

Area of construction:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Glenwood+Springs,+CO+81601/@39.5493002,-107.3288722,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x87410997341f7af9:0x8c7e59134c611125

How the finished project will look:  https://www.codot.gov/projects/sh82grandavenuebridge/assets/build-alternative.jpg

Information on construction:  https://www.codot.gov/projects/sh82grandavenuebridge