Major improvements are coming to Pueblo County's trail system with the help of nearly $9 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Scheduled for completion in early 2026, the Medal of Honor Boulevard Trail will serve as a connection for bicyclists and passengers traveling between the city of Pueblo and Pueblo West. The trail also will connect the larger Pueblo and Pueblo West multi-use trail systems.
"It will connect two disintegrated regions, being Pueblo West and the city of Pueblo, via a trail corridor that is safe and separated from the roadway," said Gregory George, Pueblo County's deputy director of architecture, engineering and sustainability.
The $8.84 million funding the Medal of Honor Boulevard Trail is part of the $1.5 million in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funds being invested in connection with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Grant funds will allow for the construction of trailhead parking, areas for food trucks to set up shop, and opportunities for public transit. The trail will run from South Joe Martinez Boulevard in Pueblo West along the north side of Medal of Honor Boulevard and connect with West 11th Street in Pueblo.
Additional improvements will allow the West 11th Street trailhead to connect with the trails along the Arkansas River. Access to Lake Pueblo State Park will be provided through the construction of the Medal of Honor Boulevard Trail.
"Once completed, you will be able to go from the river in either direction — either north up Medal of Honor Boulevard to the Pueblo West Trail System, all the way down to the reservoir. You can also come up by the dam, up around the reservoir and back down around through Medal of Honor," George said.
The Medal of Honor Boulevard Trail is one of six projects in Colorado receiving a combined $63 million in RAISE grants, according to a news release from U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper's office. Other Colorado projects receiving funding include projects in Akron, Brighton, Greeley, Thornton and Towaoc.
Planning and development for the Medal of Honor Boulevard Trail will be carried out by Pueblo County government and the city of Pueblo. Other key stakeholders include Pueblo Transit and the Pueblo Board of Waterworks.
"I think the goal of this grant from the beginning has been taking advantage of an asset we have within the city, being the Arkansas River, and improving that to make it a more family-friendly environment... It just creates another opportunity for families... to use what Pueblo has," George said.
Pueblo City Council:Pueblo City Council divided on whether to investigate ethics complaints against Maestri
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
Most Popular
Comments / 0