This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Crews have finished construction of structural elements on the east half of the South Pratt Parkway Bridge. Remaining major tasks include installing the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge, followed by final asphalt paving and lane striping over the entire bridge.
The west sidewalk must be installed in what is currently a vehicular travel lane. A traffic switch to accommodate the installation is planned for Tuesday, March 26. Changes to traffic patterns across the bridge will open the east side of the bridge to traffic, and shift construction work to the west side of the bridge.
Tuesday’s traffic switch is expected to begin around 9 am and take most of the day to set up. It will include removal of existing road striping and installation of new temporary striping. Travel delays are anticipated, and drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route such as Main Street that day.
After the traffic switch, one vehicular lane will continue to be open in each direction.
Pedestrians and bicyclists have been using the west side of the bridge. After the traffic switch, those users will be routed to the sidewalk on the east side of the bridge. All other current trail closures and detours will remain in place.
All construction impacting traffic is expected to be completed by the end of April 2019.
Project Overview
The South Pratt Parkway Bridge was built in the late 1970s and is too narrow for traffic volumes that now cross it daily. The new bridge is wider to safely carry traffic and to provide pedestrian and cyclist facilities along both sides, as well as to safely pass 100-year flood flows of the St. Vrain Creek.
For more information about the bridge replacement project, visit bit.ly/pratt-bridge, email
[email protected], or call 303-219-7474.
