Improvements will be made on the popular Bear Creek Trail in Lakewood after the city secured a $750,000 grant from the Colorado Land and Water Conservation Fund.
More than 400,000 people annually visit the trail, which is also used as a regional trail corridor connecting Denver to Morrison. The grant-funded construction projects will help alleviate congestion on the heavily used trail, according to a news release.
Project improvements including widening the trail in some sections to 10 feet, and improving safety by softening trail curves to extend sight lines. Damaged concrete will be replaced to mitigate potential hazards, bridges will be replaced, landscape restored and signage improved.
Lakewood officials expect to start the project in the coming months. In Lakewood, the trail runs through the Bear Creek Greenbelt, a 350-acre park on the south side of the city. The trail is approximately 7 miles in length beginning near C-470 and Morrison Road in Bear Creek Lake Park and extending east to Wadsworth Boulevard and into Denver.
Muller Engineering will take the lead on the project including conducting environmental and flood plain studies to ensure minimal disturbance to the natural environment, according to the release.
Construction is expected to be carried out in phases, which will include trail detours in 2021.
