Denver panel approves Aims Construction contract for National Western pedestrian bridge after debate over elevators and workforce goals

The South Platte River Committee of the Denver City Council on Jan. 28 approved a construction contract with Aims Construction to build an enclosed pedestrian bridge linking the National Western Center campus to the 49th and Brighton RTD station, committee members said.

Sarah DiBietro, program director for the Mayor's Office of National Western Center, told the committee the contract covers a single-span bridge that will cross nine railroad tracks (RTD, BNSF and DRIR), include elevator towers with HVAC, stairs, landing plazas with lighting, security cameras and IT/fiber connectivity, and provide a direct pedestrian connection to Brighton Boulevard. "This includes federal funding from a USDOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant," DiBietro said.

Why it matters: committee members said the bridge is intended to improve campus and neighborhood connectivity and reduce walking routes by roughly a mile for some users. Councilman Daryl Watson said the award represented a major federal grant win for nearby neighborhoods, but asked how "sticky" the funding was after other components of the four-project application lost unobligated portions. DiBietro said the bridge portion was obligated early and secured; portions of the broader award for other projects were rescinded and…