It is no secret that residents and visitors alike have seen major disruptions in getting around town due to ongoing transportation improvement projects for nearly two years since work on the Loop began in earnest.
Even if Loop construction is complete and all project equipment is removed by Aug. 31 — a date that will result in a $1 million bonus payment to the contractor for early completion — it is no wonder that motorists, no matter where they are from, will continue grumbling about traffic conditions because they will still experience flaggers and detours on several routes through spring, 2025 if there are no unanticipated delays.
Some sites are under construction now. Work on one site — West Elkhorn Avenue — slated for milling and repaving from Old Ranger Road east to Big Horn Drive in the middle of downtown, was to begin yesterday, Monday, June 10.
However, due to public concern over the upheaval that all the transportation improvement projects have created, merchants along the route got word Friday afternoon of a welcome reprieve when the Town arranged for the work to be delayed until October or possibly next spring depending on weather.
At last count, in addition to the loop, at least 37 other sites, some major and others minor, are either under construction or repair, or planned for roadwork between now and spring, 2025.
Officially the sites are grouped under project names such as the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Resurfacing program and the Town of Estes Park’s Street Improvement Program. However, as the projects spread from one location to another, different areas are affected, creating separate sites of work.
“We know this is inconvenient. It causes delays and disruptions,” Public Works Director Greg Muhonen recently told a group of about 50 Rotarians.
Working on all the projects at the same time was not by happenstance, he later explained. Being mindful of costs involved in the construction projects was a motivating factor in scheduling work, Muhonen explained. “We understand our position in being good stewards of Town money.” When developing plans for work “inflation in construction costs were rising 10% a year.” In addition, “anytime a project was delayed and not undertaken concurrently would mean another season of disruption.”
Next on the list of sitework that could be seen as potentially problematic is the two-day closing of the East Riverside parking lot just north of the post office (Riverside Park). While the lot will only be closed for two days, it is known to be a primary spot for shoppers and locals alike.
Also on tap for construction that is likely to cause motorist angst include the current Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) milling and paving of U.S. 36/Moraine Avenue from Marys Lake Road to Tunnel Road, an effort that will occur around the clock every day but Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday until 7 p.m.
Jared Fiel, Regional Communications Manager with CDOT said his office has worked with the Town of Estes Park to relay information about the 24-hour work schedule to businesses along the route to help spread the information through media releases and social media outlets.
Last on the list of major arterials slated for major reconstruction and paving this summer is U.S. Highway 34/Big Thompson Avenue between the traffic light at U.S. 36 at the Visitor Center east to Mall Road. Work on that route currently is anticipated to begin in August according to Fiel.
With motorists’ safety in mind, both Fiel and Muhonen agreed that the two-lane section of Big Thompson Highway beginning at about Lake Front Street going West toward the Visitor Center should be reconfigured into a shared turn lane. “Given the number of businesses on the south side of the highway, and turns onto the north side, having a turn lane will eliminate backups so vehicles don’t obstruct traffic,” Fiel said. “Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Big Thompson Highway project should be complete in late September.”
Fiel said information about the project began with a community meeting in February and additional community outreach has been provided in conjunction with the Town of Estes Park through flyers, social media and CDOT’s weekly newsletters.
To register for CDOT newsletters, connect to Travel Alert Sign Up | COTrip. Town of Estes Park public works project information is posted on the Town’s Public Works webpage.
In addition to the projects already listed, other sites projected for work or having work recently completed include:
- Moraine/Hwy 36: Construction of a retaining wall, a project completed by CDOT.
- Paving from Davis Street west of the Loop’s roundabout to Marys Lake Road, a CDOT project.
- Cleave Street Improvements funded through voter-approved 1A sales tax funding, a Town of Estes Park project.
- Wayfinding Signage, a Town of Estes Park project.
- Fall River Trail Extension, a Town of Estes Park project.
- Graves Avenue sidewalk construction, a Town of Estes Park project.
- Reclamation area street improvements focusing primarily on significant utility upgrades followed by street rehabilitation.
- Community Drive Roundabout, a Town project that has been completed with landscape now in place.
- Pine Knoll Drive street improvement.
- Stonegate Drive street improvement.
- Valley View Road street improvement.
- 11 Patching Locations.