Weld County
Weld County Road 31 closes Nov. 16 for bridge replacement
The closure covers the stretch between County Roads 36 and 38, with a detour on the county’s Road Advisory Map. The $400,000 replacement will widen the bridge by 2 feet and add new guardrails.
Weld County Road 31 between County Road 36 and County Road 38, east of Platteville and south of Gilcrest, will be closed from Monday, Nov. 16, through Friday, March 5, while the county replaces Bridge 31/36B.
The Weld County Board of Commissioners approved the temporary closure for the length of the work. The project detour can be viewed on the Weld County Road Advisory Map.
Built in 1973, Bridge 31/36B is corroding and has minor cracking, though it remains safe, Weld County said. The county said the bridge's overall condition makes replacement necessary.
The replacement bridge is to have new guardrails and an asphalt driving surface. It is to be widened from 30 to 32 feet.
Its substructure is to be strengthened to handle increased traffic, with elements encased in concrete to make them more resistant to corrosion.
Weld County Public Works' bridge crew will build the bridge. The project is valued at $400,000.
"These types of structures — a concrete, double-tee bridge — typically last 50 years. This one lasted 53," said Curtis Hall, Weld County Public Works Director.
Kevin Ross, Weld County Commissioner and Coordinator for Public Works, said the county is confident the new bridge will have a lifespan similar to or longer than the existing one. He said the county maintains 427 bridges.