Stormwater utility work is ongoing on the 100-300 blocks on the south side of Pagosa Street.
Utility placement on the south side of the 2nd Street intersection is ongoing and may affect access to businesses with storefronts facing 2nd Street. All businesses are open, but patrons should plan for alternate access to these businesses from Hermosa Alley East.
Inlet placement and pipe installation continues in front of Kip’s Grill and Cantina.
The east driveway to the Humane Society is anticipated to be closed early next week to work on pipe installation at this location. The west-end driveway remains open. Work is weather dependent.
Pedestrian crossings: With the new traffic shift there are several locations that no longer have pedestrian barriers where the sidewalks, curb and gutter have been completed. Please pay attention when traversing the roadway and use identified crossings.
Help protect new concrete sidewalks this winter
Do not use salt or standard ice melt on new concrete during the first winter. New concrete is still curing and salt causes permanent surface damage. Salt leads to scaling, flaking and spalling from freeze-thaw cycles. Chlorides in salt can chemically weaken concrete and cause steel reinforcement to rust.
Once damaged, concrete deterioration worsens each winter and is costly to repair.
Use these safer alternatives instead: non-clumping kitty litter or concrete-safe de-icers such as calcium magnesium acetate.
Business owner responsibilities
We kindly remind downtown business owners that they are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of their buildings. Do not shovel or push snow into the roadway. This creates safety hazards and disrupts the coordinated snow removal efforts. Colorado law (Colorado Statute 43-5-310) and local ordinances prohibit the plowing, blowing or shoveling of snow onto public roadways.
Snow removal plan
A coordinated snow removal team has been assembled to support the U.S. 160 reconstruction project and help keep downtown Pagosa Springs safe and accessible throughout the winter. This team includes Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) maintenance personnel, the WW Clyde construction team and Town of Pagosa Springs Public Works staff.
The team has developed a unified plan to quickly respond to major snowstorms. The shared goals are to:
Keep U.S. 160 through downtown clear and passable.
Support emergency access routes.
Maintain access to schools, businesses and essential services.
CDOT snow removal duties
CDOT will maintain the U.S. 160 main business corridor. CDOT will provide an additional snowplow dedicated to supporting operations in the downtown corridor.
On-street parking will be unavailable between 1st Street and 10th Street due to space constraints and snow removal operations.
Snow will be pushed to the center median, next to the concrete barrier, until crews can haul it away.
Town of Pagosa Springs snow removal duties
The town will plow town streets. The town will prioritize school bus routes during snow events.
After prioritizing school bus routes, the Town of Pagosa Springs has agreed to prioritize the alleyways behind main street (100-400 blocks) to help businesses maintain rear access for needs such as ski rentals, prescription pickups, bakery access, deliveries and similar services.
The town will be responsible for hauling away snow piles.
Stay informed and connect with the project
Call the project information line: (970) 335-9230.
Email the project team: Pagosa160reconstruction@gmail.com.
Visit the project website: www.codot.gov/projects/us160pagosasprings.
Subscribe to project updates: subscription.cotrip.org.
Information provided by Colorado Department of Transportation.