Bridge project to bring temporary closure

Published on April 13, 2026

Work to repair a bridge between Milliken and Gilcrest will begin this week, after the Weld County Board of Commissioners approved the temporary closure of Weld County Road 25.5  between WCR 40 and WCR 42. The closure will begin Wednesday, April 15, through Friday, May 22. The project detour route can be viewed on Weld County’s Road Advisory Map.

“Our roads are critical to providing safe and efficient travel throughout Weld County, and so too are our bridges,” said Scott James, Weld County Commissioner Chair. “Our public works department is responsible for maintaining 429 county bridges, and this project is just the latest example of the work done to achieve that goal.”

The need for the five-week road closure comes after an inspection by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) showed that Bridge 25.5/40A needed structural repair. While the bridge is still safe and structurally sound, Kevin Hettinger, Deputy Director of the Weld County Department of Public Works, said repairing the bridge’s structure will ensure it remains that way. He also said the new structure will keep the bridge from undergoing weight restrictions.

“There are no weight restrictions currently in place for this bridge, but that could happen if we don’t improve its structure,” Hettinger said. “This bridge was originally built in 1940, so repair at some point is expected. We believe the work done over the next five weeks will enable the bridge to continue serving the traveling public safely and efficiently for many years.”

In addition to improvements to the bridge’s structure, a complete resurface of the bridge will be completed, bringing new pavement to the driving surface and promoting a smoother overall ride across the 33-foot bridge.

These types of bridge repairs are not new. In addition to safety and structure testing performed regularly by public works, CDOT evaluates county bridges every two years, gauging structural efficiency, cracking, and other elements of safety. Continued testing and evaluation by both CDOT and public works has led to many recent bridge improvements. A few notable ones include improving Bridge 51/68A, located southwest of Eaton, and Bridge 17/28A, located southwest of Platteville and northeast of Firestone. Both projects were completed in 2025.