Aspen City Council moves forward with design phase for Smuggler Bridge replacement

Aspen’s Smuggler Bridge on Power Plant Road is nearing the end of its lifecycle. 

Because of that, Aspen City Council unanimously approved a replacement design phase presented on Tuesday by Engineering Operations LLC, granting $558,681 to fund the design. 

The design will take place over the next nine months, Aspen Project Manager Jack Danneberg told The Aspen Times. The approval comes months after the bridge was inspected for its longevity in August 2025. According to an Aspen staff report, the two options weighed by Engineering Operations were rehabilitating the bridge, which would extend its lifespan by 15-30 years, or replacing it, which would provide a lifespan of approximately 75 years.

“The current bridge is in a condition that needs maintenance,” Danneberg said. “When we assessed the option of rehabilitating the current bridge or replacing the bridge, the cost was similar, and the impacts on traffic were less with a replacement, so the choice was made for a full replacement.”

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and take place over the course of four months. It is intended to align with airport closures to reduce impacts on traffic, according to him.

The replacement design will prioritize pedestrian safety and architectural aesthetics similar to the Mill Street and Neale Avenue bridges, according to the staff report. The bridge will be created via advanced bridge construction that will also mitigate traffic congestion and lessen the duration of the construction. 

“The advanced bridge construction method utilizes offsite precast concrete parts to expedite the construction timeline, allowing us to install the bridge faster and maintain one lane of traffic throughout the construction,” Danneberg said. 

Smuggler Bridge was built in 1971 and remains the only alternate route into and out of Aspen for down-valley communities other than the main Castle Creek Bridge. 

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During Tuesday’s meeting, Council Member Bill Guth proposed potentially expanding the design even further.

“I’d like to make sure that we have the opportunity with this design work to think differently and think bigger,” Guth said. “I don’t want to just say ‘design the same bridge that’s there today.’ I want to look to see if we can enhance the evacuation routes and make the road less dangerous.” 

After some debate, his suggestion was mostly bypassed due to costs and feasibility.

The proposed design phase, Resolution #065, passed unanimously. 

Danneberg said he hopes to begin working with a general contractor toward the end of 2026 to assess construction feasibility and provide cost estimates.