Colorado Department of Highways
The Colorado Department of Highways was an important government group in Colorado. It was the original name for what is now called the Colorado Department of Transportation. This department helped build and maintain roads and bridges across the state.
What Was the Department of Highways?
This department had many jobs. One of its main roles was to design bridges. Sometimes, it even helped build these bridges too. Many of the bridges it created are now listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as important historical structures.
Finding Colorado's Historic Bridges
Experts have studied Colorado's old bridges many times. These studies help decide which bridges are special enough to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Studies were done in 1983, 1987, 2000, and 2011. The most recent study looked at 712 bridges. These bridges were built between 1959 and 1968.
Bridges Built by the Department
The Colorado Department of Highways built many important bridges. Here are some of them:
- Big Thompson River Bridge I, US 34 at milepost 65.53, Estes Park
- Big Thompson River Bridge II, US 34 at milepost 66.22, Estes Park
- Big Thompson River Bridge III, US 34 at milepost 85.15, Loveland
- Big Thompson River Bridge IV, US 34 at milepost 86.04, Loveland
- Black Squirrel Creek Bridge, built 1935, US 24 at milepost 327.33, Falcon (This bridge was replaced in 2012)
- Bridge over Arkansas River, U.S. Hwy 24, Buena Vista
- Cherry Creek Bridge, CO 83 at milepost 46.30, Franktown
- Colorado River Bridge, I-70 Frontage Rd. at milepost 62.90, De Beque
- Cottonwood Creek Bridge, On Vincent Dr. over Cottonwood Creek., Colorado Springs
- Dolores River Bridge, CO 90 at milepost 15.22, Bedrock
- Dotsero Bridge, I-70 Service Rd. at milepost 133.51, Dotsero
- Eagle River Bridge, US 6 at milepost 150.24, Eagle
- Granada Bridge, US 385 at milepost 97.32, Granada
- Gunnison River Bridge I, US 50 Service Rd. at milepost 155.41, Gunnison
- Gunnison River Bridge II, US-50 Service Rd. at milepost 155.59, Gunnison
- Little Fountain Creek Bridge, CO 115 at milepost 36.84, Widefield (This bridge was replaced in 2004)
- Little Thompson River Bridge, I-25 Service Rd. at milepost 249.90, Berthoud
- Maitland Arroyo Bridge, CO 69 at Milepost 3.0, Walsenburg
- Marble Town Hall, 407 Main St., Marble
- Maroon Creek Bridge, CO 82, Aspen
- Ohio-Colorado Smelting and Refining Company Smokestack, NE of Salida at jct. of SR 150 and 152, Salida
- Plum Bush Creek Bridge, US 36 at milepost 138.16, Last Chance
- Rainbow Arch Bridge, CO 52, Fort Morgan
- Rio Grande Railroad Viaduct, CO 120 at milepost 0.17, Florence
- Rito Seco Creek Culvert, CO 142 at milepost 33.81, San Luis
- Rouch Gulch Bridge, US 50 at milepost 230.12, Swissvale
- San Luis Bridge, Off CO 159, San Luis
- Spring Creek Bridge, US 24 at milepost 430.32, Vona
- West Plum Bush Creek Bridge, US 36 at milepost 134.59, Last Chance
