Board takes important step in bridge replacement project

Published on October 31, 2025

Construction safety equipment, such as a hardhat, safety goggles work boots and work gloves.

A project to replace a bridge southwest of Eaton is moving forward with state support. Monday, the Weld County Board Commissioners agreed to partner with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to construct a new bridge, located on Weld County Road (WCR) 33 at the intersection of Colorado Highway 392.

The existing bridge — Bridge 33/68A — is in CDOT’s right-of-way but maintained by Weld County. Through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), the board awarded CDOT $9.4 million to complete necessary right-of-way agreements, relocate utilities, obtain a crossing agreement with New Cache La Poudre Irrigating Company, and design and construct the bridge.

“Roads always come to mind when people think of the county’s transportation infrastructure, but our bridges are equally important,” said Perry Buck, Weld County Commissioner Chair. “Being able to have CDOT assist us when possible is a big help, and we’re pleased to have them on board for this project.”

Bridge 33/68A, originally built in 1971, has become structurally deficient, a rating given by CDOT indicating that while the bridge is still safe, not addressing issues now could lead to greater problems in the future, possibly resulting in multiple closures for repair work. Structural deficiencies on bridges occur with age, wear and tear, and continued traffic demand. Approximately 5% of Weld County’s bridges are structurally deficient. This figure is better than the national average of 6.8%, reported in a 2025 American Society of Civil Engineers report.

Construction isn’t expected to start for a few years, as CDOT will be working on completing many of the elements mentioned above prior to starting the physical replacement of the bridge. Still, Weld County Public Works Director Curtis Hall is pleased to see the project move forward.

“We maintain 429 bridges countywide, and from time to time, heavy maintenance or replacements are needed,” Hall said. “It’s all about preserving and improving these vital pieces of our transportation infrastructure, and we’re happy to be able to partner with CDOT, who is designing and constructing this bridge.”

This bridge project follows several other important ones for public works. In 2019, the department replaced the last of its 200-load restricted bridges throughout the county. More recently, in 2024, bridge 54/13A, which crosses the Big Thompson River, was reconstructed, and Bridge 44/51A, located south of Kersey, was replaced. This year, two bridges were improved as part of an effort to rebuild WCR 29 between WCR 74 and Colorado Highway 14, and work continues to rebuild Bridge 51/68A, located southeast of Eaton.