Glenwood Springs marked a significant milestone Tuesday with the grand opening of the 27th Street underpass. Local leaders, state officials, and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of a project aimed at improving safety, mobility, and connectivity in the area.

Located at the intersection of 27th Street and Colorado Highway 82, the underpass, which took 17 months to complete, addresses long-standing safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists. Glenwood Springs Mayor Ingrid Wussow highlighted the importance of the project, noting that more than 28,000 vehicles crossed through the intersection daily this summer, making it a critical regional thoroughfare.

“I think we all have a different reason for why this project matters, but for me, it’s safety,” she said. “We can talk about underground infrastructure. We can talk about regional collaboration and connectivity, accessibility for all our community members, and reducing greenhouse missions. But safety is the reason that our CDOT director walked through the halls of Congress with us and asked for money for this project.”

The $22.7 million underpass project was funded through a combination of local, state, and federal support. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Executive Director Shoshana M. Lew spoke about the collaboration that brought the project to life, reflecting on the challenges the community has faced in recent years, including wildfires and floods.

“We were making a proactive effort to think about the future of mobility here and make sure we didn’t just get sort of hired in the challenges, but we’re thinking about what the future should look like,” Lew said. “The underpass also means the traffic flow will be more efficient, because a safer way to bypass those hazardous crossings is also better for traffic.”

Lew noted that the project aligns with CDOT’s broader vision of improving transportation across the state, especially in regions experiencing growth. The underpass is expected to help ease congestion by directing pedestrians and cyclists away from the main intersection, making travel safer and more efficient.

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) CEO Kurt Ravenschlag expressed gratitude to those who supported the project, including local leaders, CDOT, and community members. He noted that the underpass would play a key role in promoting multimodal transportation.

“In order to complete a project of this magnitude, there are many deserving of recognition and gratitude for such an incredible project that promotes the safety for our transit users, our trail users, and pedestrians alike,” Ravenschlag said. “This infrastructure enhancement behind me will not only provide safe connections for pedestrians and cyclists, but also help support RFTA and the city of Glenwood Springs’ bike share system scheduled to launch in 2026.”

The project also had strong support at the federal level. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., attended the grand opening and spoke about the bipartisan effort to secure funding. He emphasized the importance of investing in rural infrastructure and highlighted Glenwood Springs as a model for other communities.

“The credit really goes to people in this valley that we’re able to describe the compelling need and advocate and work together in a way that actually made sense and made it easy for us to support and to be able to catch this moment when America decided to invest in America,” Bennet said.

“Sometimes you have to remind people back in Washington that rural America actually exists, and rural America needs help too, and that some of the most cutting edge collaboration is happening there because people in rural America know they need to work together,” Bennet continued. “I think for all those reasons, it’s just amazing to be here and to see this project.”

The 27th Street underpass represents a significant improvement for Glenwood Springs, addressing safety concerns while enhancing connectivity for the region. Local officials see it as a step forward in building a more accessible and sustainable community.

“This is a project for future generations,” Wussow said. “We are then able to leave our community stronger and safer for the next group of kids who will ride their bikes to catch the bus.”