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Wellington outlines Cleveland Avenue reconstruction timeline, cost pressures and outreach plans
Summary
Town staff and consultants updated partners on design progress for the Cleveland Avenue Improvements Project, noting grant funding, remaining right-of-way work, revised cost estimates and planned public outreach on landscaping and amenities.
Town officials told a joint Chamber/Main Street work session that design for the Cleveland Avenue Improvements Project is advancing and that construction could begin late this year or early next, but the schedule and final cost depend on right-of-way acquisitions and federal/state procurement requirements.
The project covers Cleveland Avenue from First to Fifth streets and includes drainage, curb and gutter, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping. Public works Director Gowling said the town must complete right-of-way and permitting steps before it can advertise bids and that an obligation to spend certain grant funds by the end of 2026 remains a hard deadline.
Design and approvals: Director Gowling reported that the town has completed traffic analysis, geotechnical investigation, a subsurface utility engineering study and a 30% plan set submitted to the Colorado Department of Transportation for review. Consultants have returned 60% plans and the town is working toward 90% and then final PS&E (plans, specifications and estimates) for bidding.
Funding and cost: Gowling said the town secured multiple grants, including a Revitalizing Main Street (RMS) grant, Multimodal Options Fund (MMOF), a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant and approximately $1 million in Region 4 funds. He said the initial construction estimate came in “over $8,000,000” and that scope reductions and value engineering have lowered that estimate to about $6.5 million, compared with roughly $4.5 million of identified grant funds.
Right-of-way, phasing and timing: The project requires acquisition or easements from five private properties before it can be advertised. Gowling said, “you cannot begin that until you completed everything that I just listed out.” He described a phasing strategy intended to keep two lanes of traffic open through most of construction and to install sidewalks and accessible routes first so businesses can maintain pedestrian access. Storm-drain installation is a priority because Cleveland lacks an adequate drainage system and trenching for the storm line will be an early, disruptive activity.
Permitting and procurement constraints: The town must meet federal and state procurement and steel/manufactured goods requirements on some components; Gowling warned these rules (including Buy America-type provisions) could affect schedules and lead times for items such as pumps and metal fixtures.
Amenities and outreach: The town is finalizing the landscape and amenities plan (trees, benches, lighting and planting) and expects community outreach in the summer to collect feedback on furniture, tree choices and gateway elements. Gowling said some plantings (for example, certain fruit trees) were already ruled out by the landscape team because of maintenance and survival concerns given salts, compaction and the harsh street environment.
Next steps: Town staff plan continued design, public outreach on landscaping and project phasing, completion of PS&E and right-of-way negotiations, then competitive bidding. The goal is to begin construction by late 2025 or early 2026 and finish construction before the end of 2026 to conform with the town’s grant obligations.
