Gov. Jared Polis is dropping his plans to build a $28.5 million pedestrian bridge on the state Capitol’s grounds after Coloradans overwhelmingly rejected the proposal in a recent survey.
Polis’ office made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon after releasing the results of the online survey, which found that nearly 94% of its 87,686 respondents rejected the idea. Only 3,330 people said they wanted the bridge to proceed.
In a statement, Polis sought to embrace the public’s rejection of the project and pirouette away from a bridge that he and his office had championed for the past eight months, despite opposition from neighborhood groups and legislators. Though unscientific, the results since the survey was launched early last week showed intense opposition.
“Coloradans were clear, and I will stop the pedestrian walkway in its tracks,” he said.
Dropping the project means the state will absorb roughly $1.5 million in design costs for the bridge, which would’ve connected the Capitol with Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park by crossing over Lincoln Street. Polis’ office had billed the project as a celebration of the state’s 150th birthday next year.
With the proposal in the dustbin, Polis’ office said it will “continue to work with the community on how to best celebrate” the anniversary of Colorado’s entry into the United States, as well as the country’s 250th birthday next year.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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