Representatives of the Steamboat Springs Redevelopment Authority (SSRA) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority Advisory Committee (URAAC) commemorated the completion of the Après Ski Way and Village Drive intersection on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also on hand were City Council members, City staff, representatives of adjacent condominium associations and businesses and members of the project team. The intersection re-opened to vehicular traffic on Monday, November 7, 2016 and only a few punch list items remain.
“There are so many people to thank for making this project possible,” began Danny Paul, Public Works Engineer and Project Manager. “The SSRA and City Council deserve a lot of credit for creatively financing the design and construction from tax increment monies and City capital budgets. Also, the URAAC proposed the jointly funded project.”
The project has been contemplated since 1999 and began with temporary improvements last winter that designated pedestrian zones and defined crosswalks. The permanent improvements consist of realigning northern leg, re-profiling Après Ski Way and installing new storm drainage lines and inlets, introducing a four-way stop, adding turn lanes and bike lanes, building new sidewalks and a new bus stop and upsizing Burgess Creek culvert under Après Ski Way.
Ralph Walton, SSRA Project Manager, recognized the owners of the Snowflower, Dulaney and Village Center properties and the four neighboring businesses: The Steamboat BräuHaus, Iron Waffle Coffee Company, The Mountain Comfort Foods and Spirits and The Wild Plum Market. “Easements provided by these properties were essential and the cooperation and understanding from the businesses helped make everything work.”
Both project managers praised Native Excavating, the general contractor, led by Chris Schnelle and Andy Volk, for delivering a high quality product as well as Paul Moreau of Drexel Barrell & Co. and Tim Maxwell of Civil Design Consultants for their professional engineering services. Also, City employees Greg Gunn, Kelly Romero Heaney, Sondra Sprotta, Toby Stauffer, Shelly St. Pierre, Jenn Bock as well as City Transit and Streets departments were all recognized for their contributions.
Paul highlighted the biggest challenge of the project: the relocation of underground utilities. “Service lines for Mt. Werner Water, Atmos Energy, Yampa Valley Electric, Comcast, CenturyLink and Resort Internet all crisscross through the intersection and had to be moved. The coordination of this work was critical to the timely completion of the project, and I credit the service providers and Native Excavating for accomplishing this work in a timely fashion.”
Kathi Meyer, shared the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon with fellow City Council and SSRA member, Heather Sloop and Ellie McAtee, URAAC member and One Steamboat Place General Manager. She closed by saying, “this project dramatically enhances the safety and function of one of the City’s busiest intersections. I salute the project team for a job well-done!”
For more information contact project managers Danny Paul or Ralph Walton at dpaul@steamboatsprings.net or ralph@cedarhousepartners.com.