Today we take a look at one of the key workers on the Grand Avenue bridge project.

A Colorado native and 24-year Rifle resident, Aaron Cordova is the man behind structures (foundations, substructure, piers, abutments) for the Grand Avenue Bridge project.

Cordova started his career in construction when he was 19 years old, working on the Glenwood Canyon project. He started out as a laborer working in the No Name and Hanging Lake tunnels and building bridges in the Glenwood Canyon.

Nineteen years later, he’s still in construction, and has worked his way to the superintendent position, managing up to 25 subcontractors at a time.

Cordova’s main responsibility is safety for his crew. He begins each day with a safety briefing before sending everyone out into the field. In addition to daily safety meetings, Cordova gathers his crew once a week for “Toolbox Talks.” These discussions are centered on the daily tasks, the potential hazards around the tasks and how to mitigate issues that may arise while building various structures. Cordova is happy to report no recordable injuries since the project broke ground Jan. 4.

After the daily safety talk, Cordova makes his rounds. He has supervised structures on the Grand Avenue Bridge project since the beginning — from drilling caissons, to concrete pours for bridge piers and finishing pier caps, Cordova is constantly on-site checking for safety and quality.

Cordova and his crews work 10-hour days, and he is here to ensure that crews have everything they need to complete the day’s tasks. He coordinates material and makes sure tool deliveries arrive on time, keeps his crews working safely and efficiently and ensures crews have what they need to complete the task at hand.

In addition to supervising structures, Cordova coordinates with the public information team on potential upcoming activities that affect traffic control.

Cordova has been building bridges for more than eight years. He is the man behind the structures, keeping us safe and on schedule. We are fortunate to have Cordova’s expertise; it’s people like him that keep our project on track.