Construction of two new hotels on East Second Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets has begun, a project that will add about 200 rooms to the downtown area, city official say.
Trucks started hauling dirt from the site earlier this week, and crews began construction about six weeks ago, said Nicol Killian, assistant director of community development.
City officials issued a permit for truck hauling after a traffic signal at East Second Avenue and College Drive was installed to manage traffic from the proposed hotel.
A traffic study showed that once built, the hotels will need a signal to manage people coming and going from the hotel.
On-Site Excavation Permit allows dirt hauling from the Downtown Durango Hotel site (E 2nd Ave between E 4th and E 5th Streets). Depending upon the weather, the hauling will take a few months. Travelers are encouraged to utilize additional caution in this area. pic.twitter.com/cjoVY2sccI
— City of Durango (@CityofDurango) November 7, 2018
East Second Avenue has been changed to allow two-way traffic to accommodate trucks as they haul dirt off the property and bring concrete in, Killian said. Construction crews have plans to remove 36,000 cubic yards of dirt and import 4,400 cubic yards of concrete. A typical dumpster is about 3 cubic yards.
Fifth Street near the future hotels will also be made into a two-way street, but that hasn’t happened yet, Killian said. She said the city is trying not to make too many changes in the neighborhood at once. Fifth Street must be a two-way road before the hotels can accept tenants, she said.
The construction project, approved in 2014, has been delayed because of financing issues, Killian said. The proposed hotels, a Hampton Inn and Suites and an AC Hotel by Marriott, will be one of the most expensive projects in Durango’s history, Killian said.
Contractors have yet to submit a building permit, which would detail the exact value of the buildings, but they have plans to build two hotels and a two-story parking structure, she said.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
