Trustees approve Atlantic Avenue pedestrian crossing; detour to reroute Highway 133 traffic for several weeks

The Carbondale Board of Trustees voted to approve a construction agreement for a new pedestrian crossing on Atlantic Avenue (Highway 133) and authorized the mayor to sign the agreement with the recommended contractor. The board’s action followed staff presentations about the bid, the staging plan and public impacts.

Kevin (town staff) said the project received a single bid that was about three-quarters of the town’s budget estimate and recommended acceptance. Because the crossing will constrict traffic lanes from both sides and the center of the highway, town staff said the work cannot be phased safely while maintaining traffic and that a temporary detour is required. Kevin described the detour plan: southbound traffic will be routed behind City Market, up to Main Street, then to the roundabout; northbound traffic will be routed down Colorado Avenue and Twelfth Street and back to the highway. Staff estimated the full detour will be in place 24 hours a day and last roughly three to four weeks; work was scheduled to begin Monday.

Staff told trustees the bid timing and paving constraints drove the accelerated schedule. The town must complete paving and permanent markings before the local asphalt plant closes for the season. Trustees urged staff to minimize disruption and to consider extending work hours or weekend work to shorten the detour period.

Local business owners told the board they expect serious impacts during the detour. David Isonson, owner of Pulaski’s deli, said the head-in parking along Colorado Avenue is his primary customer parking and that a detour during peak season could “wipe us out for a month.” Riley Soderquist, owner of Hayden Place, said residents and business tenants rely on mixed-use street parking and asked for more notice and mitigation.

Staff described mitigation steps: temporary parallel parking on the north side of Colorado Avenue, a temporary pedestrian crossing near the work zone, no-parking signs on Twelfth Street to keep the lane clear for traffic flow, outreach to the school district (which staff said had been briefed), and the option to implement a temporary three-way stop at the Shorty Pabst / West Main intersection if needed. Trustees and staff agreed to keep businesses and residents informed and to adjust traffic control if problems arise.

Motion and vote: Trustee Colin moved to approve the pedestrian crossing agreement and authorize the mayor to sign; Trustee Chris seconded. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize traffic-control details and start contractor mobilization; trustees urged staff to explore accelerated hours, weekend work and additional signage and police presence to shorten the disruption.