After more than two decades of planning, Glenwood Springs’ South Bridge Project is finally becoming a reality. Before diving deep, here are a few key highlights:

• The current design has eliminated the tunnel under the airport.
• To improve the project and reduce overall cost, engineers modified the bridge type from a segmented concrete bridge to a steel girder bridge.
• Monies from the newly renewed and expanded Streets and Infrastructure Fund cannot be used for South Bridge.
• The city is considering an idea to add a toll to the bridge for a potential funding stream.
• This vital route is for sure being built — the project is to be issued for construction no later than September 2026.

The history

South Bridge has been the community’s number one infrastructure priority since the 2002 Coal Seam fire burned 29 homes and nearly forced the evacuation of the entire Four Mile corridor south of town when the fire threatened to jump the ridge over Red Mountain. As a vital connection, this will add another route for emergency responders to reach South Glenwood and an escape for approximately 4,000 residents (who previously only had one viable escape route). Additionally, the new bridge will improve connections for potential public transportation and will significantly reduce commuting time and distance for South Glenwood residents. While traffic jams are inconvenient on any given day, they can become deadly in a natural disaster.

A breakthrough

A long-envisioned roadway project received a significant commitment when the community passed the 2016 Acquisition and Improvements Tax for six local infrastructure projects, with the South Bridge listed as the greatest importance. This was followed by $6 million in grant awards from RFTA and several congressional earmarks.

The project received a huge boost when a $49.68 million federal grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation on December 12, 2023. With this award, we instructed staff to provide monthly public updates at city council meetings on the largest municipal project in our City’s history. The City continues to meet with partners including CDOT and Garfield County to discuss design elements and project funding. Ultimately, this project must reflect the collaboration and support of all partners involved.  

The route

The South Bridge project area begins at the 4-Mile Road/South Midland Avenue roundabout and runs east along Airport Road, traveling south past the airport runway before going over the Roaring Fork River and connecting with Colorado Highway 82. It includes entry points for Holy Cross Energy, Jackson Ranch, County Road 163, and a paved connection to Sky Ranch Drive. It will also have pedestrian and bike features and complete a loop that could possibly enable the City’s Ride Glenwood bus service to service the area. It will help to decongest the 27^th Street intersection, along with both 27^th Street roundabouts and the daily Highway 82 backups to Walmart during the evening rush hours.

The City is committed to ensuring the new connection has appropriate traffic calming and road safety measures. To that end, the engineering team has designed raised crosswalks, speed humps, roundabouts, low speed limits, and other traffic calming devices.

A unique idea is to toll the bridge for vehicles with license plates not registered in the City. This would serve as a significant deterrent for non-resident commuter traffic while maintaining the bridge as a vital daily connection for City residents. The funds raised would serve to maintain the new bridge, adjacent roads and possibly fund future traffic improvements.

Next Steps

Over the last year, the City refined the design, trimming over $25 million from the original cost of the project by simplifying the bridge type to a steel girder bridge, and eliminating redundant pedestrian facilities, excessive sound walls, a tunnel under the airport runway, and a grade-separated interchange onto Highway 82. This has reduced the total project cost to the current estimate of $85 million.

The city is in process to acquire remaining right-of-way (ROW) parcels. The project sits at a 90% design and is anticipated to go out to bid in early 2026, assuming the city and partners are able to close the gap in project design and funding. Per the USDOT grant award, we are required to break ground by September of 2026, and we feel confident that we will meet this deadline.

I live it

I ran for City Council in 2017 on a platform of building South Bridge and reconstructing South Midland Avenue. Residents in my ward might remember my campaign signs with a bridge prominently featured. My home sits directly on Midland Avenue (as does Councilor Zalinski’s). During my tenure with City Council, I’m proud that the City has been able to tackle the reconstruction of South Midland and soon will launch on-demand public transportation connecting into South Glenwood.

And still for nearly 20 years, I have observed commuter traffic from South Glenwood forced to go north onto Midland, congest the 27^th Street intersection in order to finally turn right (south) up-valley. I have personally evacuated my family three times due to wildfire threats. While this will be a significant regional traffic relief, first and foremost, South Bridge is a critical wildfire evacuation route. Because of this, my family and neighbors in South Glenwood and up 4-Mile Road will breathe easier once this bridge is completed.

A project that many believed to be unattainable and cost-prohibitive is set to break ground in the next 18 months. It demonstrates that a community can recognize a significant threat, identify an audacious opportunity, work diligently and systematically to advance the process, and finally achieve its goal. I am incredibly proud of every city councilor, city staff member, and the citizens over the last 23 years who did not lose faith. Without that steadfast vision and dedication, we would not be on the cusp of a groundbreaking next fall.

Jonathan Godes is concluding his two terms as the City Councilor for Ward 5 for the City of Glenwood Springs. He has served on Glenwood Springs City Council since 2017 including four years as Mayor from April 2019 to April 2023.