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County collects bids to repair Imogene Pass; commissioners authorize staff to draft contract subject to funding gap
Summary
San Miguel County received multiple compliant bids to repair Imogene Pass after storm damage. Commissioners directed staff May 28 to prepare a contract with a preferred bidder and to return June 11 for award; outside funding pledges reduce the county's expected share but a funding gap remains.
San Miguel County received multiple bids to repair storm damage on Imogene Pass and on May 28 instructed staff to prepare a contract with a preferred bidder, subject to final funding. County staff said the lowest fully compliant, experienced bid came from Hixson Briggs (Briggs & Hixson) and recommended moving forward with contract preparations.
Why it matters: Imogene Pass is a high-use backcountry route that provides recreational access and economic activity for the region. The damaged stretch requires technical rockfall mitigation and road repairs. Quick repair would limit a prolonged seasonal closure and reduce economic disruption for users and nearby businesses.
Bids and budget: County staff reported several competitive bids, several substantially below earlier engineer estimates. The county confirmed a $100,000 written pledge from the U.S. Forest Service and recorded verbal or pending commitments totaling roughly $155,000 (including an oral $50,000 pledge from Adorado and $5,000 from Telluride Outside). Based on the lowest fully compliant bid recommended by staff, the county estimated a remaining funding delta of about $200,000; staff said further pledges could reduce that gap.
What commissioners decided: Commissioners directed staff to draft a contract with the recommended bidder and return for formal contract award at the June 11 meeting. Staff said it would not finalize public announcements until written funding commitments and a signed contract were in place.
Operational notes: Staff and contractor proposals anticipate a compact schedule (weeks rather than months) if crews and materials are available and if permitting and Forest Service coordination proceed on the planned timeline. The Forest Service indicated it would not permit public passage through active construction zones once work begins; the county will coordinate messaging with tourism partners.
Next steps: County staff will prepare a contract with scope-of-work elements requested in the RFP, collect written funding commitments, and bring a contract award item to the June 11 meeting for formal approval.
