MESA COUNTY, CO — Construction continues on E 1/2 Road near Long Family Memorial Park as crews replace a bridge and upgrade drainage infrastructure as part of the Orchard Avenue Safety and Connectivity Project.
Crews have removed the old bridge over Lewis Wash and are replacing culverts and other aging drainage infrastructure. The new bridge will be wider and include sidewalks on both sides of the road, adding pedestrian access where none previously existed.
The project also includes stormwater and sewer installation. E 1/2 Road between Hoover Court and Warrior Way is scheduled to reopen this winter, with construction expected to be fully completed in the spring.
Mesa County Construction Group Manager Josh Springer said access has remained open for schools and local residents, though the bridge replacement requires a detour.
“We’ve kept access open for all the schools and locals. We have gotten some complaints about the detour, but the area is closed off, so there’s not much we can do about that without the bridge being in place,” Springer said.
The Orchard Avenue Safety and Connectivity Project is a multi-phase effort to improve safety, drainage, accessibility and mobility along the corridor. Phase II includes improvements extending west to 29 1/2 Road.
Funding support comes from state and federal grants, including the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Revitalizing Main Street Grant and the Federal Highway Administration’s BUILD Grant.