Brighton updates Bridge Street opening and Eighth Avenue waterline work; council presses for better public communication

City staff updated Brighton City Council on Aug. 19, 2025 about two major local construction efforts: the Bridge Street corridor project and a waterline replacement near Brighton High School. Council members used the report to press staff for better, earlier public communication about expected disruptions.

Bridge Street: Director Labrie said staff completed an initial acceptance walk‑through for Bridge Street this week and will assemble a punch list with the goal of completing remaining items — mainly landscaping in medians — by the end of the month. Utilities Director Scott Olsen added the city is assessing two alternatives to install the final storm pipe under the Brighton Lateral Ditch: a bore option and an open‑trench option. Staff said either option would close an eastbound lane for several weeks; the work would likely take two to three months once a contractor is engaged. Olsen said both options will likely be bid so the city can select the best price and approach.

Eighth Avenue waterline near Brighton High School: City staff said crews expect to complete installation of the new main on Eighth Avenue and tie into the system on Aug. 20, 2025, and to start testing the line the following days. Starting Aug. 25 staff plans to switch services and begin trench patching Aug. 28; a final mill and overlay is scheduled for Sept. 4. To reduce school‑day impacts staff said construction start times will be pushed to 8 a.m. with work ending by 3 p.m. so teacher and visitor parking areas remain accessible as a "soft closure." Utilities staff said temporary services and protected trenching will be used to limit interruption and that service interruptions, when they occur, are expected to be no more than four hours.

Council reaction: Several council members — including Mayor Pro Tem Diaz, Council Member Taddeo and Council Member Pulaski — said the city did not communicate early enough about the waterline timing and lane closures and urged staff to provide clearer and earlier notices to residents and businesses. Mayor Pro Tem Diaz noted police social media posts had informed some residents before utility outreach reached them. City Manager Martinez acknowledged the communication shortfalls, said the administration has already begun changes to improve outreach, and committed to better and earlier communications for future projects.

Why it matters: Both projects aim to deliver long‑needed infrastructure upgrades — Bridge Street roadway improvements and a core‑city waterline replacement — but construction timing overlaps with the start of the school year, affecting traffic, school drop‑off patterns and nearby businesses. Staff emphasized the city’s intent to minimize outages and to coordinate closely with School District 27J.

Ending: Staff will proceed with contractor procurement for the ditch crossing options and complete Bridge Street punch list work while refining public outreach; the council asked for rapid improvement in communication practices for projects that affect daily travel and business operations.