It won’t be pretty. It won’t be complete. There will be traffic delays. But the new Cimarron Bridge will open May 15.    That was the word from the city Thursday, a day after concrete was poured on the bridge deck.    Spokeswoman Carrie McCausland said the city wants to honor a commitment it made to downtown businesses that the bridge would be opened by Memorial Day. Cimarron Street is the major route from downtown to the west side and to the mountains beyond.    The only fly in the ointment: The bridge-deck concrete needs some heat to cure. If the city is hit by snow and consistent low temperatures for the next two weeks, it could derail opening plans.    If it doesn’t, the bridge will open with three lanes, all on the south side of the separated bridge. The city hoped to have four lanes – two on each bridge deck – opened, but weather delayed some work in winter.    The third lane on the south side of the bridge was carved out of space that eventually will be a bike and turn lane.    The northern half of the bridge will be kept closed so crews can safely continue to work on the bridge.    The bridge will open with two lanes eastbound into downtown and one lane westbound to U.S. Highway 24.    Once opening bugs are worked out, engineers expect to open two lanes eastbound during the morning commute and then open two lanes westbound for the evening commute, McCausland said.    What time the bridge will open May 15 will be decided the week before that date, she said.    The old bridge was closed Nov. 1.The new bridge, when completed Aug. 25, will have four through lanes, two auxiliary lanes and bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks on both sides. It is designed to allow three through lanes in each direction should U.S. 24 west be widened or the Cimarron-Interstate 25 interchange be redesigned.    The aesthetics of the bridge will mirror those of the recently completed Bijou Street bridge.    McCausland said the bridge, being built by Lawrence Construction, will be completed within the budget of $8.57 million.    The project is being financed by the one-cent sales tax administered by the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.

State Representative Douglas Bruce listens to discussion in the House Wednesday, February 27, 2008. Photo by The Gazette, Mark Reis

MARK REIS