Smuggler Bridge inspection could impact Aspen traffic 

The city of Aspen will be conducting a geotechnical inspection of the Smuggler Bridge, on Power Plant Road, Monday, Aug. 25, and Tuesday, Aug. 26, to ensure its longevity.

According to city officials, the city discovered in fall 2024 that underlying degradation to the bridge would require additional work during maintenance on it. The work scheduled for the week of Aug. 25 will investigate the state of the bridge structure and surrounding conditions.

This assessment will determine whether maintenance can resolve the degradation on the bridge or whether the bridge will need to be completely replaced. The earliest any significant work would take place is fall 2026. 

“The Smuggler Bridge is an important part of the transportation infrastructure, as the secondary access to the city of Aspen,” said Jack Denneberg, senior project manager at the city. “Maintaining the safety and function of this bridge is critical to our community. The bridge is in good working order, but the city of Aspen is closely monitoring its condition and is working to identify the best option for future repairs.”

Work is scheduled outside of peak traffic hours to minimize impacts, from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Drivers should expect single-lane, alternating traffic during this time.

A follow-up bridge inspection is also planned for early September, with no traffic delays expected.