The City of Steamboat Springs and Native Excavating expect to begin construction of a 2A Trails Accommodation Tax funded pedestrian trail extension and crossing improvement on September 17th. The project consists of extending culverts on Spring Creek on the West side of Amethyst to allow about 200 feet of 8 foot wide soft surface trail to connect the existing Lower Spring Creek Trail with the southwest corner of Amethyst and Maple. Additionally, an advanced pedestrian crossing warning known as a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) will be installed at the crossing between the southeast and southwest corners of Amethyst and Maple.
The project is expected to last until the end of September. Users of the Lower Spring Creek Trail should be prepared to use caution around the construction area. The trail will be closed during portions of the project and detoured through the High School Parking Lot. Motorists can expect delays as traffic will be stopped to allow trucks onto the site with some potential detours expected during portions of the work.
After completion of the project pedestrians and bicyclists will no longer have to ride along Amethyst to connect the Lower and Upper Spring Creek Trails and can look forward to a mild 7% slope up to the intersection as opposed to the existing 15%-20%.
The trail and crossing improvements were designed by Baseline Engineering of Steamboat Springs. The overall project is expected to cost about $140,000 including construction, design, and wetland permitting.