Glenwood Springs details 2024 infrastructure progress, flags $10–15M Southbridge shortfall

Glenwood Springs City Engineer Ryan Gordon told the Planning & Zoning Commission on Oct. 22 that the city completed or advanced a broad slate of infrastructure projects this year — from debris‑flow basins to a full rebuild of Blake Avenue — while continuing to seek funding to close a shortfall on the large Southbridge project.

Gordon said crews have finished several critical projects, including Oasis Creek Pump Station, structural repairs to the Devereaux Bridge and Pump Station 11000. He described debris‑flow mitigation work in Basins B through D as “about 95% complete,” funded in part by a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant to protect the interchange, the wastewater plant and the Cardenal electrical substation.

The presentation focused on storm and street work in multiple neighborhoods. Gordon said the North Landing and 6th Street projects have finished most deep underground work — new sewer mains, sections of upsized water line and a larger storm system — and that the contractor will stop visible construction by the second week in November to restore public-facing areas for the holiday season. He said surface improvements will continue next year, including sidewalks, separated bike paths and new plantings.

Downtown alleyway work (Blocks 44 and 45) includes removing dilapidated asphalt, paving with concrete and pavers, and undergrounding electric and communications lines. Gordon said the alley projects are largely funded by a mix of DDA support and a DOLA stormwater grant; Block 45 was described as nearing final surface work.

On Blake Avenue, Gordon reviewed a full reconstruction (Phase 1 between 23rd and 27th streets) that installs a new road base, sewer, water, storm systems, lighting and sidewalks. A section between 24th and 27th will operate as one‑way southbound with an 11‑foot driving lane and an 8‑foot shared‑use path to slow traffic and improve pedestrian and bicycle access. "We're certainly gonna have PD out there during the initial phases," he said, to enforce the new traffic pattern.

Gordon also described river and trail work at the confluence of 3 Mile Creek and the Roaring Fork River: crews removed invasive plants, armored some banks, removed an old Atkinson Ditch head gate and revegetated the corridor; repairs to panels on the Rio Grande Trail were expected to reopen that section soon.

Gordon gave the commission an update on the Southbridge project, calling it an infrastructure priority with a 50% design milestone imminent and environmental documents to follow. He said shovels-on-the-ground are targeted near Jan. 1, 2026, but estimated the total project cost at roughly $80–85 million. "We have somewhere in the range of $69 to $72,000,000," he said, leaving an estimated $10–15 million shortfall that city staff are pursuing through grants and other partners.

Gordon noted the city has budgeted most of the projects presented; he said some work exceeded estimates while others came in under budget. He also invited commission members and the public to a community town meeting to review Blake Avenue design options and timelines.

Next steps noted during the meeting included finalizing remaining basin and alleyway tasks this fall, completing surface restorations before the holiday season, advancing Southbridge design and continuing outreach on Blake Avenue options. Gordon said staff plan a year‑end presentation to City Council once more projects are wrapped up.

Quotes in this report are drawn from Gordon's presentation to the Planning & Zoning Commission on Oct. 22.