The Glenwood Springs Pedestrian Bridge is open! The new bridge keeps foot and bike traffic moving through the bustling Colorado resort town.
Glenwood Springs, Colo. (May 8, 2017) – Glenwood Springs is giving the phrase “building bridges” a whole new meaning. The mountain resort town, best known for its hot springs and mountain-top theme park, recently opened the Grand Avenue Pedestrian Bridge for foot and bike traffic. The footbridge is the second one to open in recent months, and a major accomplishment in the Grand Avenue Bridge project, the largest infrastructure project on the Western Slope in 25 years.
The Glenwood Springs Pedestrian Bridge spans the Colorado River from Seventh Street on the south side to Sixth Street on the north. It connects Glenwood’s downtown shopping and dining district with North Glenwood, where businesses including the Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Hot Springs, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Iron Mountain Hot Springs, the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves, several outfitters and many of the town’s motels are located. The pedestrian bridge is part of the larger Grand Avenue Bridge project which is currently underway and on schedule.
“The opening of the Grand Avenue Pedestrian Bridge is an exciting milestone for our city,” said Mayor Michael Gamba, “Glenwood Springs is a very bikable and walkable community. For our visitors, the new pedestrian bridge provides easy access to some of the best experiences Glenwood has to offer including hotels, attractions and activities.”
Now in phase three of the five-phase Grand Avenue Bridge project, the opening of the new pedestrian bridge is a highlight achievement. The steel girder bridge is a spacious 16-feet in width, leaving plenty of room for pedestrians and cyclists to comingle. Several lookout points or bump-outs provide places to stop and enjoy spectacular views of the Colorado River, Glenwood Canyon, Red Mountain and the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool. Gamba hopes the bump-outs will become mini-venues for city-sanctioned events and entertainment. Other design details include sheltered spaces with red-clay tiled rooftops that give a nod to Glenwood’s architectural past as seen on the buildings of the historic Glenwood Springs Train Depot and the Hotel Colorado.
While open, the pedestrian bridge won’t be fully complete until the Seventh Street Station is finished in July. That’s when the ADA-accessible duel elevator tower will be operational. Until then, those for whom the stairs are not a viable option can continue to use the ADA compliant temporary pedestrian bridge.
In addition to the sweeping scope of the Grand Avenue vehicular bridge and prominence of the Glenwood Springs Pedestrian Bridge, in February, the city opened the 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge. This wood-planked, steel arched footbridge traverses the Roaring Fork River and joins the Glenwood Springs High School to Midland Avenue, providing residents and visitors with yet another essential conduit for getting around town.
Making meaningful connections to people and places is the definition of “building bridges.” And, creating those connections is a cornerstone of an outstanding vacation, something at which Glenwood Springs, a top Colorado visitor destination excels — whether it’s building actual bridges or helping visitors explore the famed hot springs and river town.
About Glenwood Springs
For more information and to book reservations please visit visitglenwood.com. Glenwood Springs is located between Aspen and Vail, Colorado, 160 miles (257 kilometers) west of Denver or 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Grand Junction on Interstate 70 off exit 116. An online Media Room is available at visitglenwood.com/media. B-roll video footage is available upon request.
Media Contacts:
Lisa Langer, Vice President of Tourism Marketing
Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association
970-230-9035
email
or
Vicky Nash
Resort Trends, Inc. – tourism communications
970-948-4923
email
