Montrose, CO – The pedestrian bridge over the Uncompahgre River near East Oak Grove Road, which burned in a spring brush fire has reopened Friday, June 22, after city staff determined the structure was safe for public use.

To celebrate the reopening and highlight new safety improvements made to the bridge, the Montrose City Council is inviting the pubic for a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, June 26, at 2:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at the bridge located about 300-yards off East Oak Grove Road.

City Councilors and staff determined the bridge, which connects city recreation trails, was “very critical” to public use. The retired railroad structure was partially burned in an out-of-control brush fire on March 27.  In May the council awarded $94,963.50 in expenditures to Western Gravel Contractors for the bridge repairs and the local engineering firm, DOWL, for engineering support on the project.

The accelerated repairs include replacing portions of the bridge's 200-foot concrete deck and replacing the chain link fence with reinforced steel to protect pedestrians as they cross. The project also involves removal and disposal of black char from the underlying bridge support structure.

If the public has any questions please contact the Public Works Manager Jim Scheid at: 970.240.1481.

For more City news visit: CityOfMontrose.org.

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