County bridge in east Greeley to be replaced
Published on January 16, 2026
Monday, the Weld County Board of Commissioners approved the replacement of Bridge 45.5/56.5A, located in east Greeley on Hemlock Avenue between East 18th Street and East 24th Street. The work will be completed during an approximate three-month closure of the road, starting Jan. 20 and lasting through April 15, 2026. Detours can be found on the Weld County Road Advisory Map.
“It’s easy for one’s mind to think of only roads when thinking of the county’s transportation system, but bridges are equally important,” said Scott James, Weld County Commissioner Chair. “The replacement of this bridge is necessary to ensure it remains safe and efficient.”
After minor repairs the last two years and follow-up inspections by the Weld County Department of Public Works, it was determined that a full bridge replacement was necessary to address issues related to the deterioration of back walls and issues with the bridge’s substructure — the portion of the bridge below the bridge deck that is essential for the bridge’s overall support and for anchoring it to the ground.
As an additional safety improvement, the new bridge will be wider, expanding from 28 to 32 feet.
“Given that this bridge was originally built in 1970, I’m happy that it lasted 55 years with only minor repairs,” said Curtis Hall, Director of the Weld County Department of Public Works. “Such longevity shows we build things to last, and it’s our hope that this new bridge can have similar success is supporting and transporting the traveling public.”
The replacement of Bridge 45.5/56.5A is funded with money in public works' annual budget and will be completed in-house by the department’s bridge crew. This work follows notable bridge projects in 2025, including improvements to bridges southeast of Eaton, south of Kersey, and southwest of Platteville.
In total, public works is responsible for maintaining 429 bridges countywide.