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Asuncion Road rebuild shortfall, gas‑line conflict force county to weigh four options
Summary
Design and field data revealed low‑water crossings and a high‑pressure gas‑line conflict that raised the estimated cost and forced staff to present four delivery and funding alternatives, from reducing scope to seeking MPO federal funding.
El Paso County engineers told the commissioners Thursday that a redesign of Asuncion Road now shows major drainage and a utility conflict that together create a multi-million-dollar shortfall for the previously planned four‑lane rebuild.
Fernie Hernandez, director of Infrastructure Services, said new topographic and drainage surveys revealed five arroyo crossings and sedimentation that require large culverts and embankment earthworks. He said those unanticipated needs create roughly a $6 million shortfall for construction under the current scope.
The nut graf: the project also encounters a high‑pressure 10‑inch gas line that parallels and then crosses the corridor; relocating that line would cost far more than the current shortfall and triggers four principal options the county must consider.
Hernandez laid out four options: - Pay the utility owner to relocate the gas line (county estimate presented at the meeting: about $50 million); - Adjust the roadway alignment and acquire additional right-of-way (rough estimate presented: about $8.5 million); - Reduce scope to reconstruct the existing two-lane alignment (the option Hernandez and staff noted would require addressing the $6 million shortfall and would be disruptive but faster); - Seek federal funding via the MPO as a federalized, multimodal project (Hernandez reported an engineer's estimate of roughly $65 million; if funded through MPO the county's typical match would be about 20 percent, roughly $13 million, though staff said some disadvantaged-area credits could reduce that requirement).
Commissioners said they wanted both near-term stabilization and a long-term plan. Commissioner John Stout said the road has long been a priority because of heavy wear and safety concerns; Commissioner Demetria Olkin and others stressed that maintenance crews have been keeping the road passable while options are evaluated.
Hernandez recommended a realistic near-term approach: either reduce scope and close the $6 million gap so county crews can rebuild the existing lanes now, or advance the federal funding path while continuing maintenance until federal funds are secured. Staff emphasized that some right-of-way acquisitions and design changes will be required regardless of the chosen path.
Ending: The court asked staff to return with precise updated cost estimates, a recommended procurement path and implications for existing bond or CO proceeds at the next workshop.
