Video Story
Watch VideoFourth street bridge project will impact kayakers in Pueblo
David Ortiviz
As the weather continues to warm up outdoor enthusiasts will soon flock to Pueblo's kayak course. The city built the $1.5 million course in 2005 to attract more kayakers to Pueblo. But there's a major road block that may keep some people away over the next two years.
It's created a lot of interest around the state," said Rod Slyhoff, President of the Pueblo Greater Chamber of Commerce.
For the past three years, Pueblo's kayak course has been hot spot for outdoor sports lovers, including many from out of town. "I know last year we had hundreds of visitors and if you go up there on a Saturday you'll see license plates from literally all over the country," said Bob Walker, a kayaker and local ski shop owner.
But kayakers know this year, it may not be so easy to get to the kayak course. "We're using part of the area for staging, there's not a whole lot of area to put equipment and materials," said Dean Sandoval, Project Manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation.
C-DOT is replacing the old 4th street bridge, right next to the kayak course. Therefore vehicle access to the bottom of the course will be restricted. Instead drivers will have to park at a nearby lot and walk a short distance to the course.
"When we're busy and congested, you know we have concrete pourers down there a lot of work going on, what we've done is we're paying laborers to actually escort people through, so we're trying to keep it as safe as possible," said Sandoval.
"It is kind of an inconvenience and it is, it will be one of those spring muddy messes, but it will just be something we'll have to deal with," said Walker. The Chamber of Commerce is hoping visitors have the same attitude. "For two years we're going to be impacted a little bit by the construction, but when its over we're going to have a great new bridge that's going to allow more access to the kayak course," said Slyhoff.
C-DOT says it will work with the city to minimize the impact to kayakers during large events at the course. "For the kayak events, we've asked the city to give us advance notice. If there's times that they're going to have big events, we'll stop work and allow the people to do whatever they need to do, but obviously the project needs to progress so that will be limited," said Sandoval.
Construction crews are expected to finish the new 4th street bridge at the end of 2010.
