County to fund design and replacement of Mary Carter Greenway bridges; work to support trail safety and access

Arapahoe County and South Suburban Parks and Recreation presented two joint project requests to the county's South Platte Working Group for improvements along the Mary Carter Greenway in Littleton: design funding for a replacement of the Mineral Avenue bridge and construction funding for two replacement East Trail pedestrian bridges.

Melissa Reese Becker, interim planning director for South Suburban Parks and Recreation, said the Mineral Avenue bridge project “is part of the South Platte working group” and described constraints that have made the existing crossing a safety concern: limited width, poor sight lines on approaches and frequent mixed use by pedestrians and cyclists. Becker told commissioners, “Our funding request is for $84,000 and a total project cost of $168,000,” intended to complete 100% construction drawings so the project can move toward construction, which the presenter estimated could cost roughly $3,000,000.

For the East Trail, South Suburban requested $97,500 “for a total project cost of $195,000” to replace two aging wooden footbridges across Jackass Gulch. Becker said the bridges were built decades ago (one by scouts) and show splintering and erosion at footings; she described the structures as the only vehicular access for maintenance to the East Trail and said the replacements would be ADA‑compliant structures appropriate for a natural setting.

Why it matters: the Mary Carter Greenway is a heavily used regional corridor that links multiple trails and parks. County staff and South Suburban said the Mineral Avenue design work would address user conflicts, improve visibility and add a small mid‑river lookout “bump out” for people to step off the travelway. The East Trail replacements preserve a quieter pedestrian‑only segment of the corridor, sustaining a different recreational experience than the multiuse sections.

Commissioners asked about coordination and public outreach. Becker said the project has been informed by the 2023 Mary Carter Greenway study and an earlier vision plan; South Suburban has been meeting with the City of Littleton, Mile High Flood District and other partners, and Becker said additional coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Colorado Water Conservation Board and funding partners would continue as design advances. For the Mineral Avenue bridge, Becker said staff do not expect 100% construction drawings to be complete until April 2027 because of permitting and partner review.

The board gave informal approval during the study session. For the Mineral Avenue design request Freshman reported “we have 5 thumbs up.” Commissioners likewise signaled support for the East Trail bridge replacements, recording “5 thumbs up” for the $97,500 request. South Suburban staff said permitting work was underway and anticipated construction windows in 2026–2027 subject to permits and seasonal flow constraints.

Clarifying facts from the meeting: the Mineral Avenue design request is $84,000 (county share) toward a $168,000 design contract; construction of that bridge was estimated by staff at about $3,000,000. The East Trail bridge request is $97,500 toward a total project cost of $195,000; South Suburban indicated construction could be completed in less than three months once permitting is secured and that permitting with the Army Corps was expected to be resolved by early 2026.