The workings of a roadmap for building a long demanded and long delayed underpass in downtown Durango were on display at the Powerhouse on Friday at a “kickoff” party celebrating a 30% design benchmark.
The city of Durango hosted the party – where more than 100 people enjoyed free brews donated by Carver Brewing Co. and danced to the tunes of Stillhouse Junkies – as an informal celebration.
The Camino Crossing is a proposed underpass that would provide cyclists and pedestrians a safe way to cross Camino del Rio (U.S. Highway 550) near 12th Street in downtown Durango.
The project has been talked about with little action for the past 20 years. Last year, however, City Council funded the project’s design at $544,232.
The roadmap on display on poster boards at the kickoff party still leaves much to the imagination. It shows designs are currently at 30% and the next benchmarks are 60% and 90%.
Construction is “TBD,” although an Engage Durango page for the underpass project said construction is anticipated in 2029. A 2020 feasibility study presented a cost estimate for building the underpass of $3 million.
Durango Community Engagement Specialist Klancy Nixon said the Camino Crossing is an especially complicated project, and the city will be announcing new opportunities for the public to weigh in soon.
“We have some big ole’ utility lines under there, so that’s going to come into play significantly with the design,” she said.
According to the city, elements that designs must account for beneath Camino del Rio near 12th Street include:
- Mine tailings.
- An electrical conduit.
- An 8-inch water main line.
- A 21-inch sewer main line.
- An Atmos Energy gas line.
- An 18-inch stormwater main line.
- Groundwater a layer or so below infrastructure due to proximity to the Animas River.
Residents who frequent the Animas River and the Animas River Trail were excited for the project to finally be growing legs.
“I’m walking all the time and I’d like to not die,” resident Emma Millar said about why she wants the underpass. “Pedestrians don’t have enough control over the light and I feel like the light is confusing for cars.”
She said drivers approaching the 12th Street and Camino del Rio intersection often don’t know if they need to stop, slow down or speed up.
“Sometimes they stop while you’re waiting for the light to change and get mad at you when you don’t go,” she said.
She said she intentionally avoids the 12th Street crosswalk at Camino del Rio when she is riding her bike.
Resident Ryan Brink said the same. He said he uses another crosswalk north of 12th Street.
“Some people stop, some people don’t,” he said.
Peter Schertz said he’s waited for the Camino Crossing for 10 to 15 years – and that’s “way too long.”
He is looking forward to safer and easier access to the Animas River without having to deal with busy traffic on Camino del Rio.
Tim Walsworth, executive director at the Business Improvement District, said the Camino Crossing presents a number of opportunities by connecting the Animas River west of Camino del Rio with downtown Durango east of the river.
It will encourage more biking and walking over driving, he said. Doing so will encourage more traffic to downtown, stimulating the economy. And, the underpass will improve safety.
cburney@durangoherald.com
