PUEBLO - Governor Jared Polis, Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham, and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) today celebrated a major federal investment of $13,713,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to replace the Union Avenue Bridge in Pueblo. Funded under the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this project will replace the nearly 100-year-old bridge that serves as a crucial connection between downtown Pueblo and South Pueblo. 

“This new-and-improved bridge delivers for Pueblo’s future, improves safety, and makes it easier for people and products to get where they need to go. We’re proud to have worked with local partners and leaders to get this funding to make Pueblo more connected for everyone who lives, works, and travels in the area,” said Gov. Polis. 

“Pueblo is grateful to have Governor Polis’ support for the Union Ave. Bridge Replacement project with matching funds from DOLA,” said Mayor of Pueblo Heather Graham. “To have federal and state level investment in Pueblo, acknowledges the importance of this critical infrastructure improvement for our community. The Union Ave. Bridge serves as a link from downtown Pueblo to the southside, in a historic district in our community.” 

The Polis administration has committed $1,750,000 to the project in matching funds to help the City of Pueblo capitalize on this federal investment. The new bridge will support the safe movement of people and goods and will include new pedestrian and bicycle facilities and will be designed to support future intercity passenger rail. Replacing the aging bridge will improve safety and reliability, reduce costly repairs, and provide a critical connection for commuters, first responders, and local businesses. 

“We know that match funding for federal grant applications can be a significant obstacle for smaller jurisdictions,” said Maria De Cambra, DOLA’s Executive Director. “This investment in vital transportation infrastructure in Pueblo is a perfect example of how DOLA can work with our federal partners to support our local communities.” 

"At CDOT, we know that investing in our existing infrastructure is key to improving safety and meeting the needs of our growing communities," said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. "We are glad to see locals sharing a focus on making bridges safer and using this opportunity to encourage multimodal mobility and economic growth." 

The funding for the bridge is through the Bridge Investment Program established by IIJA, which provides $40 billion over five years to address bridge projects across the country. 

Under the Polis Administration, the Office of the Governor and DOLA created the IIJA Local Match grant program (LOMA) to help Colorado Counties, Municipalities, Special Districts, and federally recognized Tribes meet the matching fund requirements needed to apply for federal IIJA programs that require a non-federal match. Since program implementation, 11 communities, including Pueblo, have been awarded a total of $4,194,720, enabling them to draw down $25,569,347 in federal funding.