Work will be done on four media zones along Highway 40 starting in late April. The medians are from Old Fish Creek Falls Road to Anglers Drive. Angela Cosby is the Parks and Rec Director for the City of Steamboat Springs, who is in charge of the project.

The medians will stay there but the trees will be replaced. The trees are too big now, and they don’t comply with Colorado Department of Transportation anymore. They’ll be replaced with smaller trees that won’t grow as large, along with native grasses and shrubs, and some decorative concrete pavers. Duckels Construction has been hired as the contractor. You can expect some lane closures periodically through October.

 

Here is the press release from the City of Steamboat Springs, with more details.

 

Median Project Enhances Safety, Conservation & Maintenance

High-Traffic Corridor Improvement Project Runs Through October

 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-March 30, 2022-The City of Steamboat Springs is partnering with Duckles Construction to make improvements to four median zones between Old Fish Creek Falls Road and Anglers Drive this summer.

“The project was put on hold last year, but we are looking to get going this spring,” said Parks Project Manager Matt Barnard. “The median improvement project focuses on enhancing water conservation, improving safety and reducing the maintenance along this high traffic corridor.”

 

The US40 median project will transition the irrigation-heavy and maintenance intensive grass areas to decorative concrete pavers and revegetated spaces with drought resistant grass, plants, and trees in specific locations.

 

The landscaping will consist of new spring snow crab trees (62), Russian Sage shrubs (224), and more than 515 ornamental grasses such as blue fescue and Karl Foerster feather reed grasses, all protected by drip irrigated mulch beds. The new irrigation system will reduce water waste and installs new control access points on the side of highway instead of in the median. Current landscaping will be removed as it exceeds the Colorado Department of Transportation’s maximum requirements and replaced with the new snow crab trees (type of crab apple) which fairs better than the aspen used in other locations.

 

In addition, sections of deteriorate curb and gutter will be replaced, storm drain inlet protection will be installed, and existing decorative light poles will be remounted during the project. The work is like what was completed on the south portion of US40 a few years ago.

 

Motorists can expect flaggers and a one-lane closure of the inside lanes on both the eastbound and westbound US Highway 40 travel lanes during work hours. The closures will be associated with specific median work zones and will be lifted at the end of each construction day and on weekends. Motorists should utilize the zipper merge to accommodate more vehicles up to the merge point. All motorists should use caution and slow down when driving thru the work zone, where fines will be double.

 

“We’ll do our best to minimize impacts, but anyone traveling through this area should plan on additional time and increased traffic,” continued Barnard. “This corridor is the entry to the city and this project will reflect the beauty and characteristics valued across our community.”

 

The project is expected to be completed by October, contingent upon weather. Additional information will be available at EngageSteamboat.net/Median with project schematics, maps, and diagrams.