Sometimes you have to go under to get across and the Fish Creek US40 Underpass Trail, set to start construction next week, will do just that as it drops below US Highway 40 to connect several pedestrian and bike trails in the area.
“We are very excited to get this project underway after many years of planning and design,” explained Public Works Engineer and Project Manager Danny Paul. “There has been a lot of hard work by many to get to this point and we cannot wait to complete the project for our community to enjoy.”
The underpass will create a new grade separated trail along Fish Creek that travels underneath US 40 between Safeway on the east side and Walgreens and the Yampa Valley Housing Authority’s affordable housing complex, Alpenglow Village, on the west side.
The new trail will provide a safer route for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Highway 40 near the Pine Grove Road intersection. The underpass will be similar to other trail underpasses found around town such as at Walton Creek and Highway 40 and the Yampa River Core Trail crossing under 13th Street.
The project consists of approximately 700 linear feet of new multi-use concrete trail and includes concrete retaining walls, storm drain and water quality systems and landscaping. During construction, a portion of the Safeway parking lot will be closed; however, customers will still be able to use the primary access onto Highway 40 as well as the majority of the parking lot. Outside of the limited parking closure, the traveling public should experience minimal impacts, while the adjacent Steamboat Springs Transit (SST) bus stops will see no effects from the work.
“One important goal will be to protect as much of the riparian areas within this constrained site as possible,” said Paul. “While the public will see some existing vegetation removed to make way for new safety improvements, those areas will be restored and replenished with new vegetation and trees.”
The city obtained a grant from CDOT in 2012 for this project following a pedestrian fatality that occurred at the adjacent intersection of Highway 40 and Pine Grove Road. It has taken years of planning and engineering as well as property acquisition to make this project possible.
The work is being performed by Steamboat Springs’ Native Excavating, which expects to complete the project by early November 2019. The project is funded in part by the City of Steamboat Springs, 2A Trails, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
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Contact
Danny Paul, Public Works Engineer, 970.871.8210 or email