Council discusses pedestrian bridge damage

Photo courtesy James Van Liere
The third beam from the south end of the Hot Springs pedestrian bridge in downtown Pagosa Springs shows signs that it has been overstressed, having twisted and split along its axis. According to the computer analysis conducted by structural engineer James Van Liere, this particular member of the bridge’s support could have received at least three time more stress than it was originally designed to withstand. In Van Liere’s report, which town council received last week, the recommendation is to leave the bridge open to the public until the end of the summer tourist season and then close it in the fall for a more complete examination.[/caption]

The pedestrian bridge that connects The Springs Resort to the Riverwalk behind the Archuleta County Courthouse in downtown Pagosa Springs will most likely need to be replaced, according to a report presented to town council last Thursday.

Town Manager Greg Schulte handed out paper copies of the report to each council member and explained that this bridge was installed in 1995, so it is 20 years old.

Many of the wooden planks used for the deck of the bridge had become worn and weathered over time, and when town staff began replacing these green, pressure-treated boards earlier this year, one of the employees, Dylan Pruitt, also noticed cracks in the steel structure underneath the decking, which he reported to his supervisor, Town Parks Superintendent Jim Miller.

Zach Richardson, the town’s building official, looked at the bridge and was concerned enough that he recommended the town have the bridge inspected by a professional. As a result, the town hired local structural engineer James Van Liere.

“This is the type of review he does,” Schulte assured the council. “He has done structural reviews for bridges for several decades, actually, and we are fortunate to have someone in the community that has this experience.”

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