CDOT outlines multi‑year projects for San Miguel County, flags geohazard work on Keystone and Norwood Hills

Colorado Department of Transportation officials told San Miguel County commissioners on Sept. 3 that the agency’s draft long‑range and 10‑year plans include multiple projects in the county — but funding limits and project warrants mean many will proceed only slowly.

Julie Constant, CDOT Region 5 transportation director, and Tim Funk, regional planner, described a list of priorities that included a Lawson Hill (Meadows) bike/ped underpass, the Down Valley Connector trail from Elm to Placerville, passing lanes on Highway 62 and an Ilium Road intersection safety project that CDOT estimates at about $5.7 million. CDOT staff said the Lawson Hill underpass and multimodal improvements in Placerville, Sawpit, Norwood and Rico are in the draft 10‑year plan; the Down Valley Connector was identified as a regional priority but is currently unfunded at an estimated $16.5 million.

CDOT officials emphasized which projects are fiscally constrained. The 10‑year plan is limited to projected revenues; regionally prioritized projects that did not meet funding or warrant tests were pushed into the long‑range plan. Tim Funk said the Ilium Road intersection is prioritized for strategic funds because, although it is locally important, it currently may not meet federal or state safety‑warrant thresholds that unlock other formulas.

Geohazard mitigation: Keystone and Norwood Hills CDOT officials and county road staff discussed rockfall and slope‑stability problems on Keystone Hill and Norwood Hill. Vance Kelso and other CDOT geohazard staff told commissioners that a survey and worst‑site selection process is underway; preliminary planning this year is expected to lead to design and then construction in the next one to two years for certain high‑risk locations. Commissioners described large recent rockfalls and urged CDOT to accelerate studies and remediation where danger is most acute.

Other updates CDOT noted planned asset projects including bridge preventative maintenance on bridges along SH 145, completed chain‑up stations and a geohazard project south of Ophir that replaced a failing timber retaining wall with rock. CDOT also described funding and timing for multimodal work, ADA ramps, and bus‑service expansion proposals to add Telluride‑Montrose routes and more frequent service, funding permitting.

Commissioner follow‑up and next steps County officials requested earlier follow‑ups on the geohazard schedule and on permitting progress for the medical center access near Society Turn; CDOT staff said plan review comments on the latter would be issued by mid‑September and that final plan approval and notice‑to‑proceed generally follow quickly once comments are addressed. CDOT agreed to provide a written follow‑up to the county summarizing geohazard site selection and a timeline for design and construction.