Aspen Council Approves $558K for Smuggler Bridge Replacement

The asphalt on Power Plant Road is already cracking under the weight of morning commuters, and the Smuggler Bridge, built in 1971, is showing its age. It’s not just a bridge; it’s the only alternate route out of the valley for down-valley communities that don’t have direct access to the main Castle Creek Bridge. When that structure fails, or when traffic backs up, folks get stuck.

Aspen City Council decided to stop patching the leaks and start building a new hull. On Tuesday, they unanimously approved a $558,681 design phase for a full replacement of the Smuggler Bridge. That’s not a rounding error in the city budget. It’s real money, allocated to Engineering Operations LLC, to figure out exactly how to swap out the aging infrastructure before construction kicks off in 207.

Here’s the thing though: this isn’t just about pouring concrete. It’s about survival. The bridge is nearing the end of its lifecycle, a fact confirmed by an August 2025 inspection. The city weighed two options. Rehabilitate the existing structure, which would extend its life by another 15 to 30 years? Or replace it entirely, giving it a fresh 75-year lifespan?

Jack Danneberg, Aspen’s Project Manager, laid out the logic. “The current bridge is in a condition that needs maintenance,” he told the council. When they crunched the numbers, the cost to rehab was similar to the cost to replace. But the traffic impact? That tipped the scale. “When we assessed the option of rehabilitating the current bridge or replacing the bridge, the cost was similar, and the impacts on traffic were less with a replacement, so the choice was made for a full replacement.”

They’re aiming for speed. Construction is expected to take four months, starting in 207. To minimize the pain for locals, the work will align with airport closures. Danneberg explained that they’ll use advanced bridge construction methods, specifically offsite precast concrete parts. This means they can build the bridge sections elsewhere and install them faster. The goal is to keep one lane of traffic open throughout the process. “The advanced bridge construction method utilizes offsite precast concrete parts to expedite the construction timeline, allowing us to install the bridge faster and maintain one lane of traffic throughout the construction,” Danneberg said.

The design will prioritize pedestrian safety and match the aesthetic of the Mill Street and Neale Avenue bridges. It’s a nice touch, sure. But Council Member Bill Guth wanted more. He pushed to think bigger, to look beyond just a simple swap. “I’d like to make sure that we have the opportunity with this design work to think differently and think bigger,” Guth said. “I don’t want to just say ‘design the same bridge that’s there today.’ I want to look to see if we can enhance the evacuation routes and make the road less dangerous.”

Guth had a point. Smuggler Bridge is critical for evacuation. If a wildfire moves fast, or if the main bridge goes down, this is your lifeline. But after some debate, the council mostly bypassed Guth’s expansion idea. Costs and feasibility got in the way. They’re sticking to the plan.

Danneberg hopes to bring a general contractor on board by the end of 2026 to assess construction feasibility and lock in final costs. The design phase itself will take nine months. So, while you’re driving past the construction zones on your way to the airport, remember that this bridge is being replaced not just for convenience, but because the old one was running on borrowed time. The concrete will be fresh, the lanes will be wider, and the cracks will be gone. For now.