Road, trail projects get boost from stimulus funds
By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News
Some of the federal stimulus money for road and trail projects is heading
to northern Colorado.
This summer and fall, work will begin on several projects: a bike trail
underpass on the Poudre River Regional Trail near Windsor, resurfacing
of County Road 17 (Shields Street) south of Fort Collins, and a few projects
in Weld County.
About $6.5 million in stimulus funds has been allocated to northern Colorado
for roads and trails. "These projects will create jobs and get money into
the economy right away," said Larimer County Public Works Director Marc
Engemoen.
The bike trail underpass, a joint project of Larimer County and Windsor,
has been allocated $600,000 in stimulus money. It will be built under State
Highway 392 near Windsor. The underpass is "a key component" of the Poudre
River Regional Trail, according to Jeffrey Boring of the county's Natural
Resources Department. More than 30 miles of the trail system is already
completed, and when finished, the trail will stretch from Greeley to Bellvue.
At present, there's an 8-mile gap in the trail, between Windsor and the
Environmental Learning Center east of Fort Collins. After the underpass
is built, Larimer County plans to begin work on the trail segment through
the River Bluffs Open Space, just west of Windsor. A $500,000 grant from
Great Outdoors Colorado will pay for that work, as well as a parking lot
and trailhead. The county plans to build that section of trail in the fall
of 2010.
A pair of bald eagles is nesting near the River Bluffs Open Space, according
to Boring. Construction work on the underpass will be delayed until this
fall in order not to disturb the birds.
Another project to be funded with stimulus funds is resurfacing of County
Road 17, beginning at the south end of Fort Collins and continuing south
to Berthoud. This road is called Shields Street in Fort Collins and Taft
Avenue in Loveland. A joint project by Larimer County, Loveland and Berthoud,
the roadwork will be funded with $3.5 million in federal funds.
In Weld County, the county road department as well as the towns of Evans
and Severance will also receive funds for projects.
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