Plans are now in the works for the construction of a multi-million tied arch bridge, which will span the Rio Grande River in the city of Alamosa, Colorado.
Some $4.7 million in funding for the project is coming via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and more specifically a grant program called Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity.
The Alamosa project is one of three walking infrastructure projects to secure RAISE grant support in Colorado, with a total of $45.8 million in funding.
The pedestrian bridge in Alamosa will measure some 320 feet in length, with a 14-foot width. As planned, the project will also see the construction of ramps and surfacing that are Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.
The funding will additionally target right-of-way acquisitions, design and permitting costs, and the building of an adjacent parking lot.
The new bridge will connect a levee trail on the east side of the Rio Grande in Alamosa with the campus of Adams State University on the west side.
It is thought that construction will begin sometime next year, with a rough completion date of early 2024.
Tied arch bridges are different from conventional bridges due to their arch design and a cable and tension rod system connecting the bridge to the arch.
Such structures, because experts say they are more durable, are proving increasingly popular across the country, with a 1,900 foot long bridge recently completed near Minneapolis, and another one, at 245 feet in length, expected to be finished in Detroit this fall.
By Garry Boulard
