Latest news with #pedestrianbridge
CBS News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
A pedestrian bridge for Colorado's 150th birthday is a "no" go. Gov. Jared Polis explains what's being considered instead.
We now know how Coloradans want -- and don't want -- to celebrate the state's 150th birthday next year. Gov. Jared Polis launched a survey last week to find out if people liked his idea for an $18 million pedestrian bridge outside the Colorado State Capitol Building. The Colorado 150 Walkway would have stretched 1,100 square feet from the capitol to Veterans Memorial Park. 93% of those who took the survey were opposed to the bridge. "This for me validates that we will stop any walkway proposal for the state capitol," Polis told Your Political Reporter Shaun Boyd. He thinks people may have been put off by the cost. Whatever the reason for the opposition, the vote was decisive. The survey was only open five days, and the governor says more than 80,000 people weighed in. "This shows the passion that Coloradans have about our 150 birthday, our nation's 250th," he said. Based on the survey, most people have equal passion for both birthdays. "We are going to make sure all of our branding is 150-250. And we've already started to use that. This validates that." The legislature created a 150 commission to plan the celebration next year. The governor says he will consult with that group on how to proceed. "I'd like to see perhaps some kind of historical art project that kind of tells the story of Colorado. Ideally it could be mobile, so it could be in three or four places. We have time to plan, we have great folks that are providing input. We want people's continued input on this," he said. "Again, 80,000 people in five days shows a high level of interest." While the governor wanted the bridge, he says -- on the bright side -- he now doesn't have to raise $10 million. The state would have pitched in the other $8 million. Not only did most people not want a bridge, more than half didn't want any project. Of those who did want a project, most didn't want it in Denver. They wanted several smaller projects around the state. Colorado became a state on August 1st, 1876, which is officially "Colorado Day."
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Coloradans surveyed, say "no" to a pedestrian bridge project to celebrate the state's 150th birthday
Coloradans surveyed are against the idea of building a bridge from the Colorado State Capitol to Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park. Gov. Jared Polis says the people have spoken. The governor set up a statewide survey asking if they wanted the $18 million pedestrian bridge called "Colorado 150 Walkway" to celebrate Colorado's 150th Birthday next year. Colorado became a state on Aug. 1, 1876. The governor admits he didn't expect such a visceral reaction when he released renderings of the Colorado 150 Walkway in May. "Over 93% of Coloradans do not want the bridge at the Capitol," Polis told CBS Colorado. "So there will not be a bridge there." Gov. Polis said Coloradans are excited about celebrating the 150th birthday of the state. "They are equally excited about Colorado 150 -- nation 250," Polis said. The governor says the branding and celebration will include both the Colorado birthday and the United States' 250th birthday. The state has a sesquicentennial commission working on what will happen across the state.
RNZ News
18-07-2025
- RNZ News
Wellington footbridge faces demolition after earthquake closure
The demolition will close roads around Wakefield Street on Saturday. Photo: Nick James / RNZ A Wellington central-city pedestrian bridge will be knocked down on Saturday as part of a series of works underway on streets near Civic Square. The Amora footbridge connects the Amora Hotel to the former Michael Fowler Centre carpark on Wakefield Street. The hotel has been deemed earthquake prone and has been closed since 2017, which made the bridge redundant, and caused it to attract anti-social behaviour, squatting, graffiti and illegal access to the hotel and the adjoining building. Wellington City Council said, while the link bridge was secure, it was prudent to remove it as soon as possible. To safely remove the bridge, the section of Wakefield Street from Taranaki/Wakefield intersection to lower Cuba Street would be fully closed to traffic and pedestrians, with the public asked to follow traffic management plan detours. Over coming months, the council will have several closures in place on nearby roads, as it co-ordinates needed infrastructure work, before it upgrades and reopens Civic Square next year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CBS News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Do you want an $18 million bridge for Colorado's 150th birthday? Take Gov. Jared Polis's survey
Gov. Jared Polis wants to hear from you. He's conducting a survey to find out how Coloradans want to celebrate the state's 150th birthday next year. It comes after his idea for an $18 million pedestrian bridge from the Colorado State Capitol to Veterans' Memorial Park sparked an uproar. The governor admits he didn't expect such a visceral reaction when he released renderings of the Colorado 150 Walkway in May. "One thing I was excited about is there was so much passion. But how do you measure that?" he said. He isn't convinced the people who've voiced opposition to the bridge represent where most Coloradans are at so, he's decided to get a bead on public sentiment with a survey. "Rather than just sort of stick our finger in the wind, let's try to get some data behind this," he said. The survey -- at -- not only asks whether Coloradans want the walkway but whether they want it scaled back and, if they don't want it, what they want instead. There's also a question about whether people are more excited to celebrate Colorado's 150th anniversary or the nation's 250th anniversary, which both happen next summer. "We're the kid with the Christmas birthday, right," the governor said. "Our birthday is Christmas. Like, Colorado is the only state where our big anniversaries are on our country's big anniversaries." He says, whatever the survey results are, he will honor them. "We can quickly pivot to something else," he said. "What would be a nightmare to me is if (the survey) comes back and it's like 50.2% to 49.8%." "And then what?" CBS Colorado Your Political Reporter Shaun Boyd asked. "And then we're kind of where we are and we have to make our best judgement on where to go." But he says ultimately, it's not about what he wants. "I happen to be the guy in the seat who helps to orchestrate this birthday event. And yes, President Trump gets to be the guy in the White House who orchestrates our 250th. So whether you like me, whether you like Trump is irrelevant. It's about our birthday, and we want to make sure we observe that appropriately." The survey will be open until midnight Monday. There has been some confusion around the cost of the walkway. The governor says it's $18 million, not $28 million. The other $10 million, he says, is for improvements to the park that will take place over several years. Polis says $8 million of the $18 million will come from the state and he plans to raise the other $10 million.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Colorado governor wants public input on proposed pedestrian bridge outside the Colorado State Capitol Building
Gov. Jared Polis wants Coloradans' opinions about a proposed new pedestrian bridge outside the Colorado State Capitol. The proposed walkway from the Capitol across Lincoln Street and into Veterans Park is expected to cost up to ($18 or) $28 million. Polis launched a statewide survey about the plans at "Now is the time where we have to figure out is this going to happen or not," Polis told CBS News Colorado's Shaun Boyd. "So, what do people want? Do they want to see a celebrate 150th with a 150 walkway? Do they want small projects in other parts the state? Or do they want nothing at all?" People on social media have criticized the bridge since the Capitol Building Advisory Committee agreed in an 8-4 vote to refer the project to the legislature's Capitol Development Committee. One person on Instagram wrote, "Like putting a bumper sticker on a Ferrari."
