Replacement of Granite Bridge located on County Road 397 just off Highway 24 between Buena Vista and Leadville has begun.
Originally installed in 1911, the bridge is one of the few remaining examples of steel pony truss construction still in operation and believed to be the first of its design type in Colorado. However, the Granite Bridge is due for some substantial rehabilitation to maintain its service life for the next century.
Chaffee County has been planning the $3.1 million project for several years in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Transportation. Combined funding of $1.4 million from the state’s Special Highway Committee and $1.2 million from the Federal Highway Administration will cover the majority of the project cost. The county will cover the balance of the expense from its capital improvement funds.
The Granite Bridge replacement project is expected to be completed by early July 2024.
