The existing Violet Avenue bridge over Fourmile Canyon Creek, west of 19th Street, is in poor condition and one of the worst-rated bridges in the city. We will reconstruct the Violet Avenue bridge as part of the Primos Park Project.

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Completion Date
2029
Current Phase
Design

Project Overview

  • Reconstruction of the existing bridge over Fourmile Canyon Creek. The upgraded structure will be larger and safer. The new bridge structure will also help manage stormwater and reduce flood risk.
  • A new underpass for walking and biking to cross Violet Avenue.
  • A new multi-use path connection north of the new bridge next to Primos Park. The new path will provide access to key destinations such as the North Boulder Library and other connections further west, like the expanded Broadway Bridge and underpass across Fourmile Canyon Creek.
  • Streetscape improvements on the north side of Violet Avenue adjacent to Primos Park, including on-street parking, pedestrian facilities, the multi-use path and stormwater infrastructure.
  • New drinking waterline and storm sewer.
  • Public art.

Timeline

  • 2026-2027: Design and permitting.
  • 2028: Construction begins.
  • 2029: We anticipate completing major work by mid to late 2029.

Construction Impacts

During construction of the bridge structure and underpass, Violet Avenue between 19th Street and Broadway will be closed to all modes of travel, with a detour in place. View impacts and detours on Cone Zones once construction begins. We will maintain local access to nearby homes.

After the bridge is completed, we will reopen Violet Avenue. Other necessary traffic control will continue until the overall park project is complete.

Funding

The overall Primos Park project has various funding sources, including the Utilities Department, Parks & Recreation Department, and federal grants. Transportation-related work, including the vehicular bridge, underpass, multi-use path, and streetscape improvements, is funded by $10.5 million through the Transportation Fund and the Community, Culture, Resilience, & Safety (CCRS) Tax. Work will also build on access improvements funded by a Safe Routes to Parks grant in 2024.

Project Background

Primos Park will be a new neighborhood park in North Boulder, located on a 9-acre site on Violet Avenue between Broadway and 19th Street. Over the past several years, we have worked with the community to plan this project. The project is an interdepartmental effort between Transportation & Mobility, Parks & Recreation, and Utilities to provide park features, a neighborhood center and plaza, flood and stream improvements, the new bridge and underpass at Violet Avenue, the multi-use path, and streetscape improvements.

City staff have worked closely with the community on the Primos Park project, including with Community Connectors, local youth, Growing Up Boulder, neighbors and residents of the nearby Boulder Meadows and Ponderosa manufactured home communities, as well as people with disabilities. Learn more about Primos Park community engagement.


Bridge Asset Management Program: The structure replacement will significantly improve the health of our Bridge Asset Management Program while aligning with the goals of the programs below.

Greenways Master Plan: The Fourmile Canyon Creek Greenway and multi-use path are key off-street transportation connections in the city's Greenways Program.

Low-Stress Walk and Bike Network Plan: The new underpass at Violet Ave is part of a low-stress walk and bike network. The Violet Avenue Bridge will provide a connection on the Fourmile Canyon Creek multi-use path system for walking, biking and rolling. The most recent project on this system was the 19th Street over Fourmile Canyon Creek bridge replacement, part of the 19th Street Improvements.

Transportation Master Plan (TMP): The TMP has long identified the Fourmile Canyon Creek Greenway and multi-use path from Broadway to CO 119 as a vital multimodal transportation corridor. This project will build the next segment of the FMCC MUP to advance a safe and well-connected transportation network for the community.

Learn more on the City of Boulder Master Planning webpage.

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