Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is set to reopen the 8th Avenue Viaduct, implementing a significant speed limit reduction for commuters. Starting tomorrow, the speed limit on the bridge between Tejon and Mariposa streets will drop from 30 mph to a cautious 10 mph, according to DOTI. DOTI has mandated this reduction following a weekend closure for maintenance work, intended to address ongoing durability concerns.
Installed over the weekend, two steel plates have necessitated the lowered speed limits over the bridge's expansion joints. Being cautious, DOTI urges drivers and motorcycle operators to drive carefully over them while it remains undetermined if this change will be permanent or temporary. Despite this intervention, the multiuse path for walking and biking stays open, unaffected by these updates.
DOTI has flagged the 8th Avenue Viaduct for further maintenance as the structure continues to age. Ready to meet the demand of the public, DOTI seeks funding to either replace the west side of the viaduct or to level it down to street grade. This move promises to enhance the connectivity for the city's travelers and is part of a broader infrastructure focus. The viaduct replacement proposal currently finds itself on the list of considerations for the Vibrant Denver Bond, which the Denver City Council is deliberating for introduction this coming November.
