Construction is underway on a new pedestrian pathway along Patterson Road in Grand Junction, marking a long-awaited infrastructure project aimed at improving safety and connectivity for residents.
City officials confirmed that crews have begun preparing the ground for a detached concrete sidewalk on the south side of Patterson Road between 25 ½ Road and 24 ½ Road. The project, approved earlier this year by the City Council, carries a construction cost of approximately $1.5 million.
According to city engineering and transportation director Trent Prall, the pathway has been part of the city’s long-term planning efforts since the 1980s.
One of the primary challenges delaying the project for decades involved coordination with the Grand Valley Irrigation Company, as the path is being constructed over an existing canal.
“This does represent the first time that the Grand Valley Irrigation Company has allowed the city to construct a trail or sidewalk over their facilities,” Prall said. “So we’re excited about that partnership.”
The irrigation canal beneath the project corridor was converted from an open ditch to a piped system more than a decade ago, helping alleviate previous liability concerns. However, the design still had to account for operational access to headgates and other infrastructure.
“Obviously, they still have headgates that they need to be able to maintain and access and adjust on a daily basis,” Prall said. “So the design that we developed accommodates both their needs, as well as the community’s need to be able to get around the community.”
The new path will offer an alternative to the existing sidewalk on the north side of Patterson Road. Unlike the current route, the new pathway will be set back from traffic, providing a safer and more comfortable experience for pedestrians and cyclists.
City officials say the project will also improve access to nearby businesses, neighborhoods and schools. Additionally, two bus pullouts will be constructed to support safer transit operations.
“We do have two bus pullouts that will also be constructed as part of the project,” Prall said. “So that will enable Grand Valley Transit (to have) a safe place to pull off into while they take on or offload passengers as well.”
The project includes installation of a 10-foot-wide concrete path, along with pedestrian lighting and landscaping improvements. Crews are currently preparing the base layer for the sidewalk, which involves excavation and placement of structural aggregate before concrete pouring begins later this month.
“Right now, the crews are preparing the bed of the sidewalk, if you will,” Prall said. “They’ve dug down below the normal grade. That’s the extra material that’s out there. We bring in what we call aggregate base course, which is the structural material that we put in underneath our concrete. Then we will start concrete pours here in late April.”
Landscaping will primarily consist of rock-based materials, including crushed granite and varying rock sizes designed to enhance visual appeal in the corridor.
“We do have landscaping that’s proposed there, mostly in the form of different sizes of rock,” Prall said. “We have a lot of crushed granite that’s proposed, as well as different (rock) sizes that help provide some visual interest.”
The Patterson Road project is expected to be completed by the end of July.
In addition to this effort, the city is continuing upgrades to its broader trail network, including replacing aging asphalt paths with more durable concrete surfaces. A separate project along South Camp Road is nearing completion and will extend connectivity to Wingate Elementary School.
Prall noted that concrete is preferred for pedestrian infrastructure due to its longevity and resistance to cracking compared to asphalt.
Originally reported by Dan West in The Daily Sentinel.
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