After facing strong opposition from the public, Gov. Jared Polis has decided to abandon his plans for a $28.5 million pedestrian bridge at the state Capitol. The decision came after an online survey revealed that nearly 94% of the 87,686 respondents were against the project, with only 3,330 in favor of it.
In a statement, Polis acknowledged the overwhelming rejection of the bridge and announced that he would halt the project. This move marks a significant shift for the governor, who had been advocating for the bridge for the past eight months despite resistance from local groups and lawmakers.
By scrapping the project, the state will incur approximately $1.5 million in design costs that had already been spent on the bridge, which was intended to link the Capitol to Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park via Lincoln Street. Originally envisioned as a way to commemorate Colorado’s 150th anniversary next year, the bridge will now not come to fruition.
In light of this development, Polis’ office stated that they will collaborate with the community to explore alternative ways to celebrate both Colorado’s entry into the United States and the nation’s 250th birthday next year.
This story is still unfolding and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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