The Gateway to the Southwest at Interstate 25 art project is halfway complete, and funding to finish the other half is close to being secured.

One of the two sculptures being planned for the roundabout of the I-25 Gateway Dillon Bridge north of the city has been completed and work on the other sculpture will begin soon.

City Council recently approved $120,000 more in funding for the project, bringing the total amount of funds raised to $704,500. The total project cost is estimated at about $882,000. The funding recently approved by the council included $70,000 in contributions from the Board of Pueblo County Commissioners and $50,000 from the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority.

That funding comes on top of the $300,000 contributed by the Robert Hoag Rawlings Foundation; $130,000 from the city of Pueblo; $50,000 from the Garone Nicksich Foundation; $50,000 the county commissioners previously contributed; $24,000 from Legacy Bank; $5,000 in contributions from Pueblo Bank and Trust; and $500 from the Connect Charter School.

With the sculpture on the east side of the roundabout already in place, the construction for the sculpture that will go on the west side is expected to start up in April and be finished by June, according to Bill Zwick, the capital projects manager for the city of Pueblo. The remaining funds needed for the project need to be in place before that construction can get underway.

It has been the plan of the city to have a grand opening celebration for both sculptures — which are in the shape of obtuse triangles and have colorful art featuring pictorial elements that recognize and reflect the history, industry and landscape of the region — in June.

Local artist Ken Williams was chosen by the city and a nine-member panel to do the design and construction of the sculptures.

Besides the construction of the sculptures, the project has three other components that include a stewardship fund to maintain the sculptures, placing replica sculptures in the downtown area and a public participation plan.

rseverance@chieftain.com

Twitter: RyanSevvy