Commuters will experience a new look while traveling over Castle Creek Bridge beginning today — whether it be by foot, bicycle, or motor vehicle.
The “living lab” is a temporary — and much more inexpensive — way for the public to experience what a wider walking path across the bridge to 7th Street would mean for travel in that area, which sees the most accidents in the city.
This week the driving lanes will be reduced from 12 feet to 11 and the path on the north side will be widened to about three and a half feet.
Matt Kuhn, the trails manager for the City of Aspen, said the crossing is currently heavily used but it’s unsafe and does not cater to all interests.
“We want to provide infrastructure with strollers, we want to provide infrastructure for people with chariots behind their bike or infrastructure for disabled people to walk safely through this corridor,” said Kuhn.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over the Castle Creek Bridge. The agency approved the plans for the living lab but will not help with costs of the changes. The temporary reconfiguration costs $100,000.
The city parks and engineering departments will be collecting feedback on the changes through the summer and will bring a recommendation to City Council. A full reconstruction of the corridor will cost nearly $2 million.
