Trail access along the Arkansas River near the Waterworks Park project is now open. Construction on the $11-million project below City Park and to the east of Pueblo Boulevard continues and visitors are urged to use extreme caution in the area.

Foot and cycling traffic only are only on the trails. The new pedestrian bridge that connects the north trail to the south trail is open. Access to the trail on the south side of the river is also reopened, and visitors may enter the area from City Park.

Waterworks Park, Pueblo Water’s rehabilitation project of the old Southside Diversion Dam, will improve safety on the river by creating a passageway that will allow users to ride the river unimpeded from the dam at Pueblo Reservoir to Runyon Lake.

Holcim WCR is the contractor of the Waterworks Park project. Visitors near the area should continue to use caution during construction, which is expected to take several more months.

Modifying the diversion dam, an area that currently is unnavigable, will help minimize risks and hazards for those in-stream river users and on-land visitors as well. At the same time, the rehabilitated area will allow users to ride the river without stopping.

Pueblo Water is paying for most of the project. However, the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County and the Pueblo Conservancy District also have committed financially.

Visit www.pueblowater.org for project updates and area closures.