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Looking Back to Move Aspen Forward

Reevaluating the 1998 Entrance to Aspen plan to meet today’s mobility, safety, and community needs.

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CO 82 Entrance to Aspen Public Open House

Upcoming Public Meeting

Join us for our Public Open House:

March 26, 4 pm – 6:30 pm
Colorado Mountain College
255 Sage Way, Aspen

Join us to:
LEARN about the Entrance to Aspen Reevaluation
SEE updated project information and design refinements
SHARE your feedback and get your questions answered

Come Share Your Thoughts!
FREE Food & Drinks
Materiales en Español e Interpretación Disponible

What is the Entrance to Aspen Project?

For more than 30 years, the City of Aspen, alongside our community partners and local government agencies, has been discussing the best transportation options in and out of Aspen – an effort known as the “Entrance to Aspen”. The goal is to address travel, safety and mobility while respecting the community’s character and environment. This reevaluation checks the original 1998 plan against today’s needs and reassess its environmental impacts.

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Traffic backed up entering Aspen

Why Are We Reevaluating Now?

  • Castle Creek Bridge is aging: Built nearly 60 years ago, the bridge remains safe but is nearing the end of its design life. Maintenance costs will rise, and weight restrictions could be needed in the future.
  • Emergency access concerns: Climate change and wildfire risk have increased the need for reliable evacuation routes and improved emergency response
  • Travel time challenges: Congestion and delays into and out of Aspen remain high, especially during peak seasons and commute hour
  • Community direction: Recent community votes, formal decisions by Aspen City Council and Pitkin County, plus endorsements from Snowmass Village, reaffirm the commitment to move the original Entrance to Aspen plan forward.
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Reviewing the 1998 Preferred Alternative

A lot has changed since the Entrance to Aspen plan was approved in 1998. This review—called a “reevaluation”—is a check-in on that earlier process. Instead of starting from scratch, agencies are reviewing what’s changed over time—such as travel patterns, environmental issues, and community needs—to see whether the plan still fits as is or if some updates are needed.

This isn’t the first check-in: A formal reevaluation was completed in 2007, which confirmed the plan was still valid at that time. Today’s reevaluation looks again with updated data and priorities.

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Heavy traffic entering Aspen

What’s in the Original Plan?

More than 40 alternatives were studied before the community and agencies agreed on the plan, known as the Preferred Alternative, which includes a realigned Highway 82 with a new Castle Creek Bridge, other highway and intersection improvements, a transit system, and more.

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The Reevaluation Process

Learn more about the reevaluation process depicted in this timeline.

Entrance to aspen EIS reevaluation process chart. A number of elements will be included in the EIS reevaluation process. The Technical Studies include, survey and mapping, traffic and safety analysis, environmental data collection and infrastructure assessment. Design refinements will include, exploring options to refine and 1998 preferred alternative, evaluating options for consistency with EIS objectives, collaborating with stakeholders, and selecting preferred alternative refinements to assess in the reevaluation. Public and stakeholder outreach will include, sharing information on technical studies, presenting refinements to the preferred alternative, and seeking feedback for consideration in the reevaluation. Reevaluating the EIS will include, documenting changed conditions and regulations, assessing impacts of refined preferred alternative, agency coordination, and identifying mitigation. After the EIS reevaluation will be a decision point. Either changes do not create new significant impacts and the reevaluation is complete or changes do create new significant impacts and a larger NEPA process is required.
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Contact Us: Emily Ford, City of Aspen Communications Specialist: info@entrancetoaspen.co
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