Bridge over Highway 119 kicks off countdown to Maryland Mountain Recreational Park opening
Section of Highway 119 near Black Hawk will be closed overnight for installation
Soon Coloradoans will have a new trail system to explore in Black Hawk. Crews will begin installing a bridge over Highway 119 on November 25th to connect the Hidden Treasure Trailhead parking area to the new Gilpin Tramway Trail around the Maryland Mountain Recreational Park development.
Highway 119 near mile marker 8 will be closed from 6 p.m. on November 25th to 7 a.m. on November 26th to install the new bridge.
The bridge was built in sections and will be put together at the site and installed to give hikers and bikers a safe way to cross Highway 119. Completion of the first phase of the park is projected mid-2020 and until then, the area is under construction.
The Maryland Mountain Recreational Park, which includes the Gilpin Tramway Trail, will feature trails of various skill levels and allow visitors to hike or bike through an area filled with historical reminders of Colorado’s gold rush days. The trail system creates opportunities for passive outdoor recreation and heritage tourism while giving hikers, mountain bikers and nature and history lovers an incredible chance to see historic venues at the epicenter of Colorado’s Gold Rush.
When complete, the park will promote outdoor recreation and heritage tourism, contributing to the overall economy in Gilpin County and Colorado. The trailhead creates access to the trail system partly built on the old Gilpin Tramway railroad bed. It will take several years to fully complete the 600-acre Maryland Mountain Recreational Park.
