Chapman Drive trail bridge delivered; OSMP says underpass will open 24/7 after placement, trailhead work to follow

OSMP staff told the Open Space Board of Trustees on March 12 that a steel multiuse trail bridge for the Chapman Drive Trailhead project has been delivered to the site and contractors plan to install it this spring; once the bridge is set, the underpass will be reopened 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Jeff Haley, deputy director for visitor experience and infrastructure, said the bridge is a standard 10‑foot multiuse structure that will separate trail users from vehicle traffic on the existing vehicular bridge and that installation will allow safer crossings for equestrians, bicyclists and pedestrians. "The bridge is on‑site. It's paid for. It's built," Haley said, adding that the contractor has mobilized and is keeping the Boulder Canyon and Chapman trails open as much as possible during construction.

Project background and design Staff said the Chapman Drive Trailhead and bridge plan dates to an intergovernmental process beginning after the 2013 flood and included county and CDOT coordination. A 50/50 IGA signed in 2023 established cost‑sharing and OSMP management of construction. Presentation slides showed the bridge will connect underpass trail segments to the Boulder Canyon Trail and a new, code‑compliant trailhead layout with accessible parking, equestrian access, picnic facilities and native plantings.

Closures, timing and communications Haley said the only planned closures are a small segment of the canyon trail and the existing trailhead footprint while heavy work is underway; the Boulder Canyon Trail and Chapman Drive Trail will remain passable. OSMP staff estimated the underpass will be open again full time "later this spring, late May to early June" once bridge placement is complete. Staff said they will use the OSMP website, social media, partner channels and the department27s interactive trail map to communicate staged closures and the final opening date. "We'll keep the web page updated," Haley said.

Safety and traffic context Trustees raised concerns about overflow parking and people crossing State Highway 93 near trailheads; Haley said OSMP is talking to CDOT about signage and potential entrance drive options where signalized intersections exist, but that parking beyond OSMP property (in CDOT right‑of‑way) is largely a CDOT enforcement issue. Janelle Freeston, community connections deputy director, said OSMP rangers have authority to issue citations on some adjacent rights‑of‑way through county agreements but that enforcement capacity is limited.

What remains to be done Haley said trailhead finishing work (parking and visitor amenities) will continue after the bridge is set and that the construction timeline will seek to minimize weekend disruptions. There was no vote or change to policy; staff provided the project update and committed to posting schedule changes and closure notices online and through partner outlets.

Ending Trustees welcomed the bridge as a long‑planned safety improvement. OSMP said it will return to the board with any substantial schedule or scope changes and urged the public to rely on official OSMP communications for closure and reopening announcements.