Maroon Creek Bridge

Dear Aspen and Pitkin County Residents and Visitors,

The Maroon Creek Bridge replacement project was completed in 2008. The construction work was done by BTE/Atkinson and celebrated with an official ribbon cutting in October 2008, along with the completion of the SH 82 Aspen Bus Lanes project.

State Highway 82 crosses the large Maroon Creek basin on the oldest bridge in service on the Colorado state highway system. Originally constructed as a railroad trestle bridge in 1888, the Maroon Creek Bridge was converted for highway use in 1929. The bridge is currently classified as needing replacement given that its sufficiency rating is now only 9 points out of 100.

In 1998, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signed the “State Highway 82 Entrance to Aspen Record of Decision (ROD),” which included replacement of the Maroon Creek Bridge. This decision took into account results of an extensive environmental study conducted between the Buttermilk ski area and Main Street in Aspen.

Recommendations from the ROD and guidance from the Elected Officials Transportation Committee (EOTC) determined the design of the replacement bridge should not only meet the needs of the Highway 82 transportation improvement, but should complement the historic look of the existing bridge. In order to accomplish these goals, several studies were performed on various design alternatives and presented to the EOTC in 2003. The existing bridge will be left in place to honor its designation in the National Historic Register.

The purpose of the studies was to help determine a safe, cost-effective, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing bridge structure. A concrete box girder bridge type was selected, and project plans were prepared.

The Colorado Department of Transportation, in partnership with Aspen and Pitkin County, would like to thank you for your support during the project.

Regards,
Joseph Elsen, P.E., Program Engineer, Colorado Department of Transportation

CDOT wins the Gold Hard Hat Award (pdf)