City of Pueblo Receives Nearly $14 Million for Union Avenue Bridge Replacement

PUEBLO-The City of Pueblo received notice of award as one of 31 projects in 24 states under the Bridge Investment Program providing $930 million in bridge grants. The City of Pueblo received $13,713,060 for the Union Ave. Bridge Replacement project from the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration. The City of Pueblo was the only project awardee in the state of Colorado.

"I'd like to thank Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper who both advocated for Pueblo to receive this significant grant award, the support and commitment from our federal delegation is appreciated," said Mayor of Pueblo Heather Graham. "Union Ave. Bridge is a critical link from downtown Pueblo to the southside, in a historic district of our community. We can invest in maintaining access to the storefronts of some of Pueblo's most popular local businesses, the link to Pueblo Whitewater Park at the Arkansas Levee and into the Mesa Junction."

The anticipated project cost is $17,286,994 and the City of Pueblo requested 80 percent of the total project funds of the $13,713,060 award. The Union Ave. Bridge is a critical component of Pueblo's economy as it connects significant places of history and heritage, tourism, stores and restaurants in the downtown corridor.

The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has committed $1,750,000 as a local, non-Federal funds match. The City of Pueblo will contribute $811,731 of general funds to complete the Union Ave. Bridge Replacement Project. Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners are an additional investor with an anticipated match to the project.

At almost a century old, the bridge is at the end of its service life and does not provide clearance for future intercity passenger rail. Project components include demolition of the current bridge, reconstruction in the same traffic corridor for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The Union Ave. Bridge replacement project is based on the results of preliminary engineering including environmental assessments, topographic surveys, traffic studies, financial planning and more.

"The condition of Union Ave. Bridge has been a major concern for residents in recent years and we are excited to share the good news of this grant award with the ability to replace the current bridge and implement new, improved features more useful to Puebloans," said Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes.

Design includes pedestrian and bicycle facilities using the Safe System approach, addressing the safety of all road users. Design will designate new street cross sections that incorporate higher quality pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, including sidewalks, shared use pathways and separated bike lanes.

Other local agency collaborators for the project include Pueblo Area Council of Governments, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Amtrak, BNSF and Union Pacific Railroads, Pueblo Conservancy District, Historic Arkansas Riverwalk Project (HARP), Pueblo City-County Library District, Pueblo Downtown Association, Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority (PURA) and also Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO). Both the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce were supportive partners for the application process.

"We've had tremendous public input through PACOG, our Union and Main St. Master Plan, community partners, boards and commission members and when other projects are mentioned like Front Range Passenger Rail-how the overall condition of the Union Ave. Bridge is affecting the future of Pueblo," said Hayes. "We're happy to share the plan to move forward to complete the Union Ave. Bridge replacement project."

The preliminary design timeline is anticipated to begin August 1, 2025, with completion by May 1, 2026. Final design is planned to begin May 1, 2026, and ending February 1, 2027. Construction of the project is expected to begin February 1, 2027, with a final completion date of the Union Ave. Bridge replacement project of July 31, 2028.