Construction season usually begins in the spring and ends in the fall. But lately in Durango, it seems to have lasted years.
Crews have faced complications on two major road reconstruction projects – the North College Drive rebuild and upgrades to a stretch of County Road 250/251 – delaying both projects’ completion.
The North College Drive redesign included the replacement and upsizing of a water line, sewer collection system repairs, installation of a storm drain system and water quality ponds, as well as repaving of the road, the removal of speed humps and the addition of traffic-calming features, according to the city’s capital improvement project description.
That project is nearly completed, said Tom Sluis, city spokesman. What’s left is the installation of signage and replacement of mailboxes.
The project had a $6 million budget but went over by $913,723, he said, bringing the total cost to nearly $7 million.
“We ran into many design and construction complications during the project, including water valves that didn’t work and needed to be replaced, a surprise replacement of Orangeburg sewer pipe and repaving of the cul-de-sac afterward,” he said. “Unstable soils that created unsafe environments for the crews, traffic control delays due to working around school and commute schedules, delays with materials and more.”
Unexpected complications lying in wait beneath the asphalt is a familiar situation for the city, which is facing serious funding hurdles to address aging water and sewer infrastructure around town. Bob Lowry, interim public works director, has stressed at city meetings that critical and costly infrastructure replacements are overdue.
Public Works spokeswoman Laura Rieck told City Council last year that many of the city’s pipes are decades old and some of them were not installed properly years ago, and the city needs a proper inventory of its infrastructure.
Crews struggled to find a water main during construction of the Residences at Durango earlier this year. TWG Director of Renovations Brian Vandemoortele said the water main was not located where city maps said it should be. Locating the water line’s depth and position and figuring out how to connect it delayed plumbing, fire and final inspections, and, consequently, move-in day for tenants.
Underground infrastructure complicated the County Road 250/251 project too, Sluis said.
The project proved particularly challenging because of the need to maintain access to nearby businesses while crews dealt with extensive underground utilities, including the adjustment of a storm drain alignment to bypass sewer service connected to a nearby property. Sluis said that required a redesign of the alignment and the installation of a new maintenance hole.
“This is an intensive effort that requires precise placement of heavy concrete pipes and inlets to ensure proper water flow and long-term system performance,” he said. “The subsurface work is both time- and equipment-intensive, and accuracy is essential to achieving the project’s drainage and safety goals.”
The project is nearing its last legs, with all underground stormwater work completed, he said. On Thursday, crews were paving to stabilize the road with a layer of asphalt, which will allow city street crews to maintain it this winter. A final surface layer will be added in the spring.
Another element of the project that must be dealt with is an electrical pole at the intersection of Metz Lane and East Animas Road (County Road 250). Sluis said the pole has to be moved before a new turn lane onto Metz Lane can be completed.
The city is working on getting a utility easement with La Plata Electric Association to move the pole, he said. In the spring and once the pole is moved, crews will ensure there is proper drainage around the pole, perform concrete work around it and complete landscaping.
“Despite these challenges, the contractor and city team continue to make steady progress and are working diligently to deliver a high-quality project,” he said.
The city and La Plata County split the $8.8 million cost and a 10% contingency down the middle. Sluis said the final cost is almost $9.7 million, within budget including contingency.
The Durango Herald called F&M Construction for comment about the project’s progress but did not immediately receive a call back.
The North College Drive and County Road 250/251 projects each began in April 2024 and are in close physical proximity to one another off north Florida Road. Early construction caused significant travel delays, leading residents to wonder why the projects were scheduled for work at the same time.
Rain and snow interrupt Animas River Trail improvements
Durango city spokesman Tom Sluis said rain and snow this fall delayed progress on reconstruction of a segment of the Animas River Trail between the DoubleTree Hotel at 501 Camino del Rio and Santa Rita Park at 111 South Camino del Rio.
The project, which was launched to replace old asphalt with new concrete, widen the trail to 10 to 12 feet and install new railings and lighting, began in March and was planned to be completed by the end of October.
The Durango Herald reported earlier this month that crews are working to complete the trail segment before more snow and freezing temperatures arrive.
“We understand this is a very popular and heavily used trail and appreciate the public’s patience,” Sluis said. “We look forward to celebrating its completion soon.”
The project replaces deteriorating asphalt with a new concrete path, along with new railings and trail lighting. The trail will also be realigned to address the blind corner beneath the U.S. Highway 160 bridge. The new design is intended to enhance user safety, improve drainage and provide a better experience for trail users.
Several construction projects in Durango have been met with challenges, be it from uncooperative weather or issues with underground utility infrastructure. But one project, the College Drive and Eighth Avenue road diet plan, appears to be on schedule.
The project scope extends from East Third Avenue to East Eighth Avenue, and on East Eighth Avenue it extends from Second Street to College Drive.
Construction will reduce the number of lanes on College Drive from four to three, including a center left-turn lane. A pedestrian island with trees will be installed at the intersection of Third Street and East Eighth Avenue. And pullouts for city transit will be installed.
Sidewalk and signal improvements were scheduled for this year, with mill, overlay and restriping to reconfigure the lanes planned for 2026, according to the city.
Construction started at the end of July, although long lead times for traffic signal materials and some funding challenges delayed an earlier start. The first phase of construction wraps up for the winter this week. In the spring, a traffic signal will be installed in addition to more road work.
“We are in a ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ position when it comes to these projects,” Sluis said. “We have a shortened construction season because of the winter. The bidding process is always kind of an unknown in terms of when people are available, and there’s just a lot of things out of our control.”
Durango is in a relatively isolated region, it’s hard to find labor and it’s hard to get materials, he said.
“Everything takes longer down here because we are not a major metropolitan area,” he said. “And that’s not to make excuses. It’s just the lay of the land.”
Sluis said the city must hire contractors when they are available. Sometimes construction projects will overlap, and schedules aren’t always perfect or optimal, but the alternative is years or indefinite delays depending on contractor availability.
“It’s just not the best situation for everybody, but it’s just the factors we’re dealing with and the situation we find ourselves in,” he said.
cburney@durangoherald.com
