Contract for bike/pedestrian bridge over Fountain Creek beside 31st Street
A photo looking south shows the 31st Street
roadway bridge at left and, at right, the end of the
sidewalk along the west side of 31st Street. Although unmarked as such, the
sidewalk's end marks the current southbound terminus of the Foothills
Trail. A project will extend the path to Fountain Creek just west of the roadway
bridge, install a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the creek there, then connect it on
the other side to the Midland Trail (paralleling Highway 24).
Westside Pioneer photo
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DRX Construction was awarded the bid for $155,000, according to Mike Chaves of City Engineering.
Work could start in July, depending in part on how speedily a supplier can fulfill the contractor's bridge order, he explained. Completion is expected within four months. Funding is from the city's bicycle tax ($4 on each new bicycle).
The Foothills Trail goes south from Garden of the Gods Road - as a trail paralleling 30th Street and then as sidewalk along 31st. Its southern terminus is the end of the sidewalk on 31st, next to the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant on the north side of the creek.
The bridge, along with a short segment of paved trail on either side, will allow the Foothills Trail to connect to the Midland Trail on the south side of the creek.
The 31st Street road bridge over the creek has no sidewalks (or bicycle lanes).
According to Tim Roberts of Traffic Engineering, the work will aid safety by simplifying the access between two major city trails.
Westside Pioneer article
(Posted 7/9/15;
Transportation:
General)
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