RTD directors this week approved a plan to spend about $5.6 million from the agency’s FasTracks budget on improvements to the East Union Avenue bridge over Interstate 25 in the Denver Tech Center area.
The city and county of Denver and a number of metro districts are collaborating with the Regional Transportation District on the project, which is aimed at improving bus riders’ access to the Belleview station on the Southeast Corridor light-rail line, RTD officials say. The station sits below and a little to the south of the Union bridge.
In December, some RTD directors voiced concerns about the plan to spend FasTracks money on “enhancements” to the Southeast train line while other FasTracks rail lines are severely short of money and in danger of being delayed because of the shortfall. At that time, the Union Avenue bridge proposal was shelved.
But Tuesday, the revived plan was approved by directors 14-1.
Denver and the metro districts are expected to contribute about $1.6 million to the bridge project, which calls for filling in the gap between the span’s eastbound and westbound lanes to help create dedicated bus lanes for dropping off and picking up passengers, and adding an elevator/stair tower to the south side of the bridge to better serve the Belleview train station.
