City to install federally required bridge signs for certain heavy emergency vehicles on Platte Avenue bridge over Shooks Run

The City of Colorado Springs will install signs on the Platte Avenue bridge over Shooks Run that indicate weight limits for certain heavy emergency vehicles.

The bridge remains safe for everyday public use, and motorists should continue using Platte Avenue as usual. No closures or traffic delays are expected, and the posting will not affect passenger vehicles, transit buses, bicyclists or pedestrians.

The emergency vehicle load posting signs are required under the federal Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which requires bridges to be evaluated for certain specialized heavy emergency vehicles, such as some fire apparatus. If a bridge does not meet the required emergency vehicle load rating, federal regulations require it to be posted with these signs.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) recently completed a review of the bridge, including an analysis of how certain extremely heavy emergency vehicles affect aging bridge structures. The Platte Avenue bridge is the first City bridge to receive this posting.

The City's Public Works Department is coordinating with the Colorado Springs Fire Department to ensure emergency response operations continue without disruption. Additional City bridges may receive similar postings as evaluations are completed.