ROARING FORK BROADCASTING COMPANY
The city of Aspen will perform “urgently” needed repairs on the Mill Street Bridge this fall.
The city hopes to complete the work between early September and mid-October. Crews will need to close one of the bridge’s two lanes throughout that time.
The work will take place Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The closure will largely affect traffic to and from Red Mountain/Hunter Creek area and downtown Aspen.
The city plans to begin public outreach to affected neighborhoods before the work starts.
The Mill Street Bridge requires prompt maintenance, according to a city memorandum. The 40-year-old bridge’s asphalt surface has deteriorated in recent years, exposing the bridge’s structural deck components to the elements. Maintenance is required to prevent further degradation, the memo said.
City staff had originally planned the bridge repairs for a later period but accelerated the project’s timeline after noticing structural defects in the bridge during inspections this summer.
City staff expect the bridge to remain functional for another 35 years with proper maintenance. The bridge has received only “minor” work in the last two decades, the memo said.
The Aspen City Council approved a contract with Palisade-based G.A. Western Construction for the bridge repairs during a regular meeting on Tuesday. G.A. Western’s repair work will cost about $280,000 altogether, and the city will spend another $93,000 on construction management, public outreach and other related costs.
Maintenance work will include asphalt replacement, concrete deck repair, joint repair and the installation of a waterproofing membrane. G.A. Western is the only regional firm with experience installing waterproof membranes, according to city staff.
Mill Street is one of several city bridges built in the 1970s and ’80s that now require significant maintenance after decades of mountain winters and use. City staff also mentioned the Power Plant Road Bridge (which crosses Castle Creek) and the No Problem Joe Bridge (which crosses the Roaring Fork near Herron Park) as needing some work. The Castle Creek Bridge, which is owned by the state, also is approaching the end of its useful life and shows several signs of deterioration.
These bridge repairs join a long list of infrastructure projects on the city’s planning horizon. Other projects include electric line replacements, stormwater system upgrades and contemplated building projects at the Power Station building and Armory Hall.