New Bridge Becomes Gateway to Glenwood Springs

From whichever direction you arrive in Glenwood Springs, if your destination is the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, you’ll most likely come into town via Exit 116—the landing point of the new Grand Avenue Bridge. The graceful arc of the state-of-the-art roadway is more than a detour-less route through town; the new bridge is a gateway to Glenwood Springs and the entire Roaring Fork Valley.   

Now, upon exiting I-70, vehicular flow is more fluid and intuitive, directing guests staying at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge or visiting the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool with easy-to-read way-finding signage. Many thanks to Granite/RL Wadsworth Joint Venture, the contractors who built the bridge 10 days ahead of schedule! 

The bridge gives travelers streamlined access through town, with a fresh Glenwood aesthetic that feels simultaneously modern and vintage. Many of the bridge’s architectural finishes were influenced by Glenwood Hot Springs, including Bathhouse-inspired red sandstone-encased support pillars.  

One of the best outcomes of the Grand Avenue Bridge Project is the new Pedestrian Bridge. While providing convenient, walking-friendly access to downtown restaurants and retail shops, the pedestrian bridge also allows for local sightseeing. In fact, one of the most Instagramable images is a beautiful long view of Glenwood Hot Springs Pool. Additionally, views of the Colorado River and downtown scenery can now be admired from the steps of Hotel Colorado—panoramas that were previously blocked since 1953. 

East 6th Street is now a pedestrian-friendly point of access to North Glenwood Springs thanks to the new traffic pattern that has dramatically reduced vehicular traffic since it’s no longer the main thoroughfare to Grand Avenue and CO Highway 82. Once the Grand Avenue Bridge project is fully completed, new retail shops and restaurants, plus existing spots of interest, will be just a short walk away from the Resort.  

Glenwood’s newest addition is more than a replacement bridge; we predict it’s a destiny-altering portal sure to go down in the town’s history with as much transformative impact as when Glenwood Hot Springs opened to the public way back in 1888.