Construction Update
Last major phase of bridge work coming night of Wednesday, March 18
8th Street motorists will see the last major traffic shift on the Fountain Creek bridge overnight on Wednesday, March 18, with the bridge scheduled to open in its new, final configuration in April.
Work will begin at 7 p.m. and is expected to be completed by 5 a.m. Thursday, March 19. Traffic will remain open in both directions during this work. When the shift is complete, the west side of the bridge will be closed so crews can continue bridge rehabilitation. Northbound traffic will have one open lane across the bridge and southbound traffic will have two open lanes. This phase of construction is expected to last four weeks. It will include rehabilitating the bridge deck and repairing the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge.
When this phase is completed, the bridge will be in its final configuration, with two through-lanes in each direction, plus a third northbound lane that will feed into the eastbound frontage road to US Highway 24. The new multi-use sidewalk also will be open on the east side of the bridge. Crews will return to the bridge in late spring for final asphalt paving and striping.
South of the bridge, crews have finished drilling to locate utilities under 8th Street. They discovered many previously unmarked underground utilities between Motor City Drive and the Fountain Creek bridge. The project team is now revising design documents and construction phasing to minimize any additional construction impacts to motorists and businesses.
Access to local businesses remains open and clearly marked at all times.
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Background
The project will address infrastructure and mobility needs on 8th Street between Fountain Creek to Motor City Drive. More than 30,000 vehicles use this road daily. It serves as an important link to businesses and neighborhoods southwest of Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 24.
This PPRTA-funded project was approved by voters in 2012. Initial design work showed that, in addition to road improvements, the corridor needed other significant infrastructure upgrades. Needs included drainage improvements, safer multimodal access, increased capacity on the bridge carrying traffic across Fountain Creek, and a new water main under the roadway.
Project Area
Key Elements
- Widening of the 8th Street bridge over Fountain Creek. This includes the addition of a northbound lane with attached sidewalk/trail for improved access to Highway 24 and the Midland Trail.
- Drainage improvements from Bear Creek to Moreno Avenue.
- Addition of sidewalks and curb and gutter on 8th Street from Fountain Creek to Lower Gold Camp Road.
- Asphalt overlay of 8th Street from Motor City Drive to Highway 24.
- Traffic signal improvements on 8th Street at Lower Gold Camp Road and Moreno Avenue.
- Replacement of a 24-inch water main under 8th Street, from Vermijo Avenue to Motor City Drive.
Public Engagement
Open House May 7, 2025
The City held an open house on May 7, 2025, at Norris Penrose Event Center. All materials were made available digitally and can be viewed below.
Station Boards
Please use the links below to navigate to each station’s boards.
Engage with Us!
If you still have questions about the project, you may contact the project hotline (719-377-3089) or email 8thStConstruction@gmail.com. We’re happy to help you!
Photos
Week of December 22, 2025
A crane positions a 64-foot-long steel I-beam girder at the 8th Street bridge over Fountain Creek on Dec. 17. Crews placed three girders that will support a new northbound traffic lane and multiuse sidewalk/trail across the creek.
Week of November 17, 2025
An aerial view shows ongoing construction on the 8th Street bridge over Fountain Creek. Just downstream, a smaller temporary bridge allows crews and equipment to safely cross the creek.
Wing walls under construction on the east side of the 8th Street bridge over Fountain Creek highlight the expanded width of the bridge, where a new northbound lane will be added.
Week of Oct. 21, 2025
An auger slides into a steel sleeve while drilling a new bridge foundation pier on Oct. 8, 2025. The sleeve seals the drill shaft, preventing groundwater and other material from getting into the shaft while crews drill into the bedrock, set rebar in the hole, and pour the concrete to ensure a solid foundation.
Dirt flies from an auger during cleaning after drilling bridge foundation piers Oct. 8, 2025.
Week of Sept. 15, 2025
The project team received a delivery of 17 tons of rebar last week for new bridge foundation piers on the 8th Street bridge. Work on the foundation piers begins Sept. 22.
The heavy rains of late August made it nearly impossible for crews to work safely in and around Fountain Creek.