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Grand County presses CDOT engineers on Highway 40 access and merge-lane design
Summary
County transportation staff briefed commissioners on CDOT's Highway 40 project and urged engineers to add merge/acceleration lanes and reconsider access closures; design is expected to be near-final by July 2026 with construction in 2027'28.
Grand County transportation staff updated commissioners Feb. 3 on CDOT's Highway 40 improvement plans and urged the agency to examine adding merge and acceleration lanes at County Road 86 and County Road 858 to preserve local access and safety.
County staff (Speaker 9) said current CDOT plans include closing a west access point at one intersection and adding turn lanes, but county engineers asked whether an eastbound acceleration lane and a westbound merge lane could be incorporated. Staff also asked whether lowering the posted speed limit from 60 to 50 mph in the area would enable shorter lane-length requirements and allow different lane geometry.
Design work is scheduled through this summer, with two construction seasons planned: shoulder widening in 2027 and paving in 2028. Staff said they will relay commissioners' request that engineers examine the alternative lane configurations, potential impacts on County Road 515 and Homestead Hill pinch points, and bus-route access.
Commissioners emphasized consideration of future traffic growth, school and transit stops, and safety at Homestead Hill; staff said they would raise the county's concerns with CDOT engineers at a meeting scheduled the next day.
The board did not take formal action beyond directing staff to continue coordination and seek design adjustments where feasible.
