Like most of nation, Colorado has share of bad bridges
The Trucker News Services
10/22/2008
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — Nearly 10 percent of the state highway bridges deemed structurally deficient are in the northwest region that includes Pitkin and Garfield counties, including the two bridges that connect Glenwood Springs to Interstate 70.
Bridges and highways across the state are falling into disrepair, Colorado Department of Transportation officials told community leaders on Tuesday, and the state lacks the funds to repair them. Nearly half of the state highways are considered in poor condition, Transportation Commissioner Douglas Aden said, and in 20 years, nearly all the roads in Region 3 will be rated as poor.
“This is a call to action,” Aden said. “There are a lot of things we can do, but we need your help.”
CDOT officials delivered a grim picture of failing highways, dwindling dollars and little public concern. With rising gas prices leaving Coloradans pumping less gas, the gas tax dollars that help fund highway projects are diminishing. Meanwhile, officials worry the economic crisis will leave voters reluctant to accept a tax hike to shore up failing roads.
CDOT estimates it needs another $1.6 billion each year for the foreseeable future to keep up with highway projects. A blue ribbon panel considered a range of methods to pay for it, including higher gas taxes and sales taxes, which would require voter approval, and new highway maintenance fees, which wouldn’t.
“We know it’s a very difficult economic environment today but we still need to be talking about what are our challenges for the future,” Aden said.
The meeting came a day after ribbon-cutting ceremonies for two new bridges in the Roaring Fork Valley. CDOT recently completed upgrades to Aspen’s Maroon Creek bridge and Carbondale’s Veterans’ Memorial Bridge. Both saw major improvement projects to keep up with increased traffic.
Money for those kind of projects no longer exist, though, CDOT officials said. No money exists for communities’ wish lists, and officials are beginning to consider cutbacks on snowplowing to compensate for dwindling dollars.
Officials said local projects, including a new bridge on the south side of Glenwood Springs, a revamped Highway 133 through Carbondale and bus rapid transit for the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, can’t get funding.
The Transportation Commission has embarked on a round of community talks across the state to raise awareness of the problem. A recent survey found 63 percent of Coloradans didn’t see highway maintenance as a problem.
“It happened so slowly, people don’t realize what happened,” said state Rep. Glenn Vaud, who sat on the blue ribbon panel. “How can you sit in traffic jams all the time and not be frustrated?”
Eleven of the 126 bridges considered structurally deficient are in Region 3. Among the poster children are Glenwood’s Grand Avenue bridge, which acts as a bottleneck for thousands of commuters and is considered both structurally and functionally deficient, and the alternate route bridge, which needs an estimated $25 million in repairs that aren’t budgeted.
Officials said state bridges aren’t in immediate danger of failing, but if money doesn’t come to improve them, they may have to start lowering speed limits or imposing stiffer load limits before they would have to be closed.
State roads could also see more limitations, too. Nearly half of the state’s roads are considered in poor condition. By 2016, that number is expected to reach 60 percent.
Highways in Garfield County are impacted by growing oil and gas traffic and a growing population, Aden said. Meanwhile, officials said, the funding deficit is made worse by rising construction costs.
“Clearly, we didn’t get into this situation overnight,” said Carla Perez, transportation policy adviser to Gov. Bill Ritter. “We’re not going to get out of this situation overnight.”
