GM2's Complex Bridge staff performed the design and CEI for the 4th Street (State Highway 96A) Bridge, which replaces an existing structure built in the late 1950’s, while maintaining a critical east-west link. West of Interstate 25, 4th St. passes through historic downtown Pueblo before crossing a small city street, the vast Pueblo Railroad Yard and the Arkansas River. The bridge provides a much used connection between residential neighborhoods to the west and downtown to the east.
The design is twin, cast-in-place post-tensioned segmental box girders built from above in balanced cantilever with form travelers. Each girder is 54’ wide and the bridge length is 1,137’. The total bridge width accommodates two travel lanes and a 10’ multi-use sidewalk in each direction. The bridge features five spans, the longest of which is 378’, a record for the longest highway bridge span in the state. The layout provides clear spans over both the Union Pacific Railroad (23 rails) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (5 rails) in the Pueblo Yard, thus allowing uninterrupted yard operations.
Agency and community participation through a charette process developed by GM2's Complex Bridge staff has helped to create a signature bridge. A major theme of “Natural Environment”
and minor themes of “Contemporary Sculpture” and “Pueblo Heritage” were chosen by charette participants to guide development of aesthetic bridge features. These themes are reflected in pier medallions, pedestrian railing, sidewalk and end of bridge treatment details, as well as in the bridge color and lighting features.