Rio Grande Trail Access
PRELIMINARY WORK ANTICIPATES 2023 CONSTRUCTION
Open Space and Trails has been working through the permitting and permissions process with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Colorado Department of Transportation for a bridge connection between the Aspen Village Subdivision and the Rio Grande Trail. Engineering work for the project is ongoing; construction is currently expected in fall 2023.
As the preferred alignment would span a corner of BLM land, the BLM is conducting an internal review; a decision is expected in 2023. Open Space and Trails is working with RFTA on the necessary license agreement to connect the bridge to the Rio Grande Trail.
This project has received Location and Extent review and approval from the Pitkin County Planning and Zoning Commission. In addition, the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board voted unanimously to approve the project in September 2021; the Board of County Commissioners gave the project an informal go-ahead for budgeting purposes.
Engineering consultants previously conducted a feasibility study/cost analysis for the connection. A pre-fabricated, steel-truss bridge is recommended along with alignment No. 2 among four bridge alignments that were considered. The steel-truss bridge would be similar to the one previously installed to link Lazy Glen Subdivision and the Rio Grande Trail.
Find the Sept. 7, 2021 meeting materials, including the engineers' report, below. Please sign up below if you are interested in being updated on this process.
Open Space and Trails has been working through the permitting and permissions process with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Colorado Department of Transportation for a bridge connection between the Aspen Village Subdivision and the Rio Grande Trail. Engineering work for the project is ongoing; construction is currently expected in fall 2023.
As the preferred alignment would span a corner of BLM land, the BLM is conducting an internal review; a decision is expected in 2023. Open Space and Trails is working with RFTA on the necessary license agreement to connect the bridge to the Rio Grande Trail.
This project has received Location and Extent review and approval from the Pitkin County Planning and Zoning Commission. In addition, the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board voted unanimously to approve the project in September 2021; the Board of County Commissioners gave the project an informal go-ahead for budgeting purposes.
Engineering consultants previously conducted a feasibility study/cost analysis for the connection. A pre-fabricated, steel-truss bridge is recommended along with alignment No. 2 among four bridge alignments that were considered. The steel-truss bridge would be similar to the one previously installed to link Lazy Glen Subdivision and the Rio Grande Trail.
Find the Sept. 7, 2021 meeting materials, including the engineers' report, below. Please sign up below if you are interested in being updated on this process.
| Bridge Connection 9.7.2021 Meeting Materials |
Contact: Jessie Young, Open Space and Trails planning and outreach manager
jessie.young@pitkincounty.com | 970-429-6169
jessie.young@pitkincounty.com | 970-429-6169