Pueblo starts initial steps toward bridge project to connect two closed ends of 24th Street on West Side

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Nearly four months after officials opened Medal of Honor Boulevard to connect the city's West Side with Pueblo West, they've started the process toward building a bridge to make 24th Street continuous through town.

The first step was a study to determine the feasibility of a bridge that would cross railroad tracks on 24th between Atlanta Avenue on the east side and Adrian Avenue on the west side.

The next step was a public open house last month at Centennial High School where citizens could ask questions and learn more about the project.

Andrew Hayes, Pueblo's public works director, said the bridge is currently in the design phase and that no timetable, cost estimate, or funding source has been determined yet.

"I think, certainly, phases of this will be ten years off in the future," he told KRDO 13's The Road Warrior on Tuesday.

Much of the West Side remains underdeveloped due to a lack of street connectivity; the only ways to cross the railroad tracks are at a crossing on 29th Street and at an existing bridge on 18th Street.

However, improvements made on the western end of 24th Street between Tuxedo and Pueblo Boulevards; a new fire station in that area; and the opening of Medal of Honor Boulevard have generated some residential and commercial development, and Hayes said that there's already an increase in applications for further development.

The concern expressed by open house attendees is how future development along 24th Street will affect adjacent neighborhoods.