The multimillion-dollar plan to reconstruct a 1-mile stretch of U.S. 160 in downtown Pagosa Springs is gaining momentum, with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) signaling Monday it is ready to select a contractor and begin preparing for the project’s arrival next spring.
Addressing a group gathered inside one of the storefronts located along the proposed construction route — including town and county officials, business owners and community members — CDOT Communications Specialist Adair Christensen announced that W.W. Clyde and Company’s bid was the lowest of three received for the project, which is expected to extend from 1st to 8th streets and carry years-long implications for businesses, tourists and locals in the area.
“CDOT does want to move forward with them being the project contractor,” said Christensen, who added that the regionally based company has until Dec. 8 to officially accept the contract.
“So, it’s not official yet, but the good news is, typically, most of our contracts move forward if we can produce the money,” she said.
Christensen would not reveal details about the company’s bid, but reported it is 11.5 percent over what CDOT had originally budgeted.
“CDOT is fronting the overages, and we do want to move forward with them as long as they can sign that contract and make it official,” she said, requesting that local property and business owners refrain from contacting the company about private projects until after Dec. 8.
Additional details about the project’s final budget are not likely to become available until mid-December, Christensen adds in a follow-up email to The SUN.
On Monday, questions surrounding the reconstruction’s timeline and sequencing surfaced almost immediately, in addition to ones concerning the state’s notice of local voices and input.
Specific answers to those questions are still forthcoming, according to CDOT.
“It’s kind of all about money right now,” Christensen said, noting the contractor and engineer would likely not meet until after the contract is made official next month.
“That usually is a meeting where a lot of these questions will start to be answered,” added Tracy Trulove, one of the communications contractors hired for the project. “They’ll have a pretty good idea of a general phasing of the entire project.”
Rick Holter, chair of the Main Street Advisory Board whose Cone Zone Care Committee is partially tasked with creating public awareness and planning for local impacts, questioned if an earlier pause in the bidding process delayed the project’s proposed start.
“It did not delay the start date,” Christensen replied. “The plan is hopefully to get [the contractor] starting work in spring 2025. So, as soon as the snow clears, we would like them to get in there.”
In the meantime, Main Street board members indicated they will continue to pursue solutions to the foreseeable challenges ahead — from locating 188 alternate parking spaces to securing financial relief for businesses along the construction’s path.
“As long as all things go well, we will have offset the loss of parking for this project,” Main Street Advisory Board member Rosanna Dufour reported.
“We’ve already secured the parking lot to the west of the library, and the town is in the process of negotiating a lease with The Springs [Resort and Spa],” she said.
“Does that include employee parking, too?” a member of the audience asked. “Like for all of us that work down here?”
“We’re hoping we can encourage business owners and employees to consider leaving a few minutes early and utilizing things like the library to keep prime parking for people that are coming to actually patronize the businesses,” Dufour said.
To get from the library to commercial downtown, the Main Street Advisory Board’s MET (Mountain Express Transit) Task Force is exploring the feasibility of a “Cone Zone Stop & Go Bus” that could shuttle riders back and forth through the construction zone, according to information presented Monday.
“The [Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation] and Main Street are investigating trying to find some grant funding that could possibly pay for a shuttle,” Dufour said, adding that the group is eyeing a retired MET transport vehicle for the role.
Passenger shuttles and other vehicles can anticipate 10- to 15-minute delays while navigating through areas where crews are working, according to CDOT.
“It’s going to be a serious issue through town,” one attendee suggested, questioning how CDOT plans to tackle potential traffic snarls during the busy spring and summer months.
“Our program engineer mentioned it was written into the contract that we have to keep two-way traffic through downtown,” Christensen responded. “I think it was a 10- to 15-minute wait time to switch the queue over.”
Pressed further, she later added, “There will be a traffic-control plan.”
For business owners worried that local shoppers and tourists will skip visiting downtown altogether, hope in the form of individualized consulting sessions, a low-interest loan program and potential grant opportunities are on the horizon, according to the Main Street board.
“We’re still working on our business assistance program,” Main Street Coordinator Kathleen McFadden said. “Now that we have a better idea of the timing for the contract for this project, we’ll be able to set the schedule for how we’re going to be rolling out this loan program.”
That program, offering loan amounts between $1,000 and $10,000, comes with a zero percent interest rate for the first six months and a 1 percent rate for the next six, according to information presented by the Main Street board. With a fixed prime rate after one year, the loan could be used for “essential costs like payroll, rent, and utilities.”
“We understand, OK, a loan is still a loan, you have to pay it back some time,” McFadden continued. “So, we’re really working hard to try to find some funding [and] offer a grant program.”
Later in the meeting, incoming Archuleta County Commissioner John Ranson asked if those grant funds would require a matching sponsor.
“More than likely we’ll need matching funds, yes,” McFadden replied.
McFadden praised the community turnout at Monday’s meeting — there were about 45 in-person audience members and another dozen who tuned in online, according to one count — and afterward indicated that responses from business owners and other stakeholders were heard by the Main Street team.
“Business owners are adjusting, and last night many emphasized the need for grant support over low-cost loans,” she wrote in an email to The SUN. “Cone Zone will continue working with our municipalities and exploring all avenues for grant funding. Our goal is not just to help our community survive, but to ensure it thrives throughout the reconstruction.”
The next Cone Zone update is scheduled for Dec. 16, with location details to be announced.
garrett@pagosasun.com
