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Commissioners press CDOT engineers to adjust County Road 86/858 designs to preserve access
Summary
Grand County commissioners discussed planned CDOT changes on Highway 40 near County Roads 86 and 858, urging engineers to add merge/acceleration lanes and consider speed-limit reductions to maintain safe access; design finalization due in July with construction slated for 2027–2028.
County staff and commissioners spent a substantial portion of the Feb. 3 meeting reviewing Colorado Department of Transportation design proposals for Highway 40 where it intersects with County Road 86 and County Road 858.
County staff summarized CDOT's current plan to close an existing access point on County Road 86 and indicated engineers are revisiting plans for turn and merge lanes at the east and west intersections of County Road 86. Staff said CDOT would review options to add a westbound acceleration (merge) lane and an eastbound acceleration lane, subject to available right-of-way and standard distances for posted speeds.
Commissioners suggested asking engineers whether reducing the speed limit from 60 to 50 mph near the intersection would allow required acceleration/deceleration lanes to fit within the project footprint. Staff said design finalization is targeted for July, with construction planned across two seasons (shoulder widening in 2027 and paving in 2028). Commissioners also urged CDOT to consider impacts on bus routes and future traffic from platted lots and to look at County Road 515 inclusion only if it will not delay the 2027 start.
Staff will return with CDOT responses on merge-lane feasibility, potential speed-limit changes, and plans to mitigate water/runoff issues at Red Dirt Hill (where meltwater has contributed to ice on the highway).
