The roundabout at Mt. Werner Road and Steamboat Blvd. will be fully open to traffic as of Wednesday, Nov. 10. The multi-million dollar project started up the day after the ski area closed last April. Lighting will be installed in the next few weeks and a sidewalk will go in next spring.
Here is the press release today from the City of Steamboat Springs.
Mt. Werner/Steamboat Blvd Roundabout Opens Tomorrow
Project Opens Before Ski Season Within Budget Despite Pandemic Challenges
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-November 9, 2021-The major roundabout infrastructure project at the intersection of Mt. Werner Road and Steamboat Blvd. will fully open to traffic on Wednesday, November 10. Crews will be working this week to complete final critical work for opening sometime in the day on Wednesday.
“This is a significant investment for the community and enhances safety at a very busy intersection,” commented Project Manager and Public Works Engineer Danny Paul. “On behalf of the entire project team, we would like to sincerely thank the community for their patience and cooperation during the construction work.”
Lighting installations will be installed by Yampa Valley Electric in the coming weeks after the roundabout is open. Some additional work will be completed in spring 2022 including installation of a sidewalk link along the north side of Mt. Werner Road between Montview Lane and Pine Grove Road.
The multi-million-dollar project was completed in seven months starting the day after the ski area closed on April 12 and reopening on November 10. Originally, the project called for spanning two summers, but the project team was able to condense this schedule into one construction season mostly because of allowing the contractor to close the entire intersection at the beginning of the project.
Duckels Construction served as the general contractor and was supported by several key sub-contractors including United Companies, Giovonni Construction, Whelan Land Surveys and Mountain West to name a few. This was the sixth roundabout built in Steamboat Springs, and the fourth that Duckels has overseen.
This is the largest roundabout (inscribed diameter of over 140 feet) in town and features two lanes westbound (toward US40) and one lane eastbound (headed to ski mountain) that can be expanded to two lanes in the future when volumes warrant. The roundabout has been appropriately sized to perform well even during Steamboat’s busiest winter periods.
“This intersection has been on the radar for many years and the roundabout addresses important safety improvements for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians,” continued Paul. “This was a substantial project in terms of size and volume of work required to bring the finished product to life.”
In addition, an existing drainage pipe to accommodate the 100-year flood was installed. New sidewalks, formalizing existing bus stops, landscaping beautification, street and pedestrian lighting are part of the overall scope.