By Shannon Lukens.
The safety of Highway 40 urgently needs to be improved. That is the message in a letter to Colorado Department of Transportation, the Transportation Commission of Colorado and the Northwest Planning Organization, from Senator Dylan Roberts and Representative Meghan Lukens.
“My sympathies go out to those who have gotten in crashes on Hwy 40. We are working together alongside local elected officials, CSP, and CDOT to support varying projects to help make Hwy 40 safer. We know that there is a need for increased law enforcement, expanded lanes, as well as projects like safe crossing that we’re support and talking with our CDOT partners to see what options are available to make Hwy 40 safer.”
The very strong letter saying there have been too many accidents and crashes on Highway 40 between Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig, that have resulted in significant delays, injuries and six fatalities in the last year.
“While no traffic corridor can ever be accident-free, the tragedy we are seeing on Highway 40 is abnormally high and should be addressed by the State of Colorado and local officials immediately.”
Action items suggested include more passing lanes, increased law enforcement, reducing cars by continuing investigating Mountain passenger Rail, add safe crossing options at Steamboat II and Heritage Park, ongoing rockfall mitigation, and extending the Yampa River Core Trail.
Roberts and Lukens are the state legislators who represent the Hwy 40 corridor. That full letter is on our website.
Those copied include Governor Jared Polis, Moffat County Commissioners, Routt County Commissioners, the City of Craig, the Town of Hayden, and the City of Steamboat Springs.
More on the Story — State Legislators send “urgent request” to improve safety on Hwy 40
A $5 million grant has been awarded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the Yampa River/Walton Creek Confluence Restoration Project. It’s to help with watershed health, and enhance the long-term resilience of the Yampa River to future floods, wildfires, and drought. It will help restore the river and wetland areas in Steamboat Springs. The city has also raised $7.9 million for the project. Other grants have been awarded as well. Once the design and permitting is complete, construction will hopefully begin in 2027-2028.
More on the Story — The Yampa River/Walton Creek Confluence Restoration Project receives $5M
A new 10-minute film called “A Guide to Fighting for Wild Rivers” has been released. It focuses on the Yampa River in Northwest Colorado. The short film is by Logan Bockrath. It’s about conservation and the fight to protect our wild rivers. The Yampa River Awareness Project is a partnership between Friends of the Yampa, American Rivers and OARS.
A Guide to Fighting for Wild Rivers | Presented by OARS
The Steamboat Springs School District Board of Education meets at 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. Agenda items include a spotlight presentation on Yampa Valley High School and a housing update.
The South Routt School district is sharing the new Master Facilities Plan. The meeting is Monday, Jan. 27 in the elementary school cafeteria in Yampa. A second meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 28 in the High School cafeteria in Oak Creek. Both meetings are from 6:30-8 p.m. Information will be shared followed by a brief tour.
The Routt County Board of County Commissioners meet for a Work Session Monday. The county manager and attorney will provide an update.
Commissioners have a regular meeting Tuesday morning. Yampa Valley Regional Airport director Kevin Booth is on the agenda.
The Moffat County Board of County Commissioners also meet Tuesday morning, with reports from the Department of Public Health and more.
In news from Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club athletes…
Jeremy Nolting, Adrian Beauregard, and Logan Grosdidier all won the qualifier races for the U.S. Alpine Championships in Vail in late March, and the U18 Nationals, which are in Aspen starting Feb. 25.
Jeremy Nolting, Adrian Beauregard and Logan Grosdidier Win Alpine Qualifiers in Vail
Three Nordic athletes made the podium at the Super Junior National Qualifier and collegiate races in Soldier Hollow Utah. They are: Maia McGinnis-Smith, Georgia Bishop, and Langdon Devin.
Maia McGinnis-Smith, Georgia Bishop, and Langdon Devin Post Podium Finishes at Utah JNQ
Local mogul skiers competed at Aspen Highlands. Mia Satkiewicz was the top finisher for Steamboat with two fourth place finishes. Other top finishes were from Reise Wilson, Lyllah Miller, Gigi Lobeck, Anouk Bradley, Shane Mariano, Griffin Harvey, and Cole Anderson.
Moguls Team Competes at Aspen Highlands