The La Plata County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Durango committing up to $4.4 million to redevelop portions of county roads 250 and 251.

The agreement is contingent upon the city formally agreeing to annex the section of C.R. 251 that extends from East 32nd Street just west of Holly Avenue to the intersection with C.R. 250, as well as approximately 1,400 feet of C.R. 250 extending from the intersection.

Officials have long sought to bring that section of main arterial road into conformance with the surrounding thoroughfares by installing bike planes, a sidewalk and landscaped buffers and medians.

La Plata County will provide $2.2 million once the city formally agrees to annex the area, and another $2.2 million upon completion of annexation. The county’s total contribution is half the estimated development cost of the project, county spokesman Ted Holteen said, although county officials are firm that they will not commit any more money than the approved $4.4 million.

County officials had agreed to support the project years ago. However, this is the first time the financial commitment has been established in a formal fashion.

“This is a lot of money, I think it’s very generous, but I think it’s needed,” Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton said before voting to approve the agreement.

She also noted the need for better clarity going forward on similar projects with respect to the county’s financial commitments.

The city has planned extensive upgrades to the road, including bike paths on both sides of the road, a sidewalk on the northern edge, and medians separating lanes and paths from one another, similar to those found on Florida Road.

“The multimodal aspect of this, the safety aspect is very important,” Porter-Norton said.

City Council is expected to approve the IGA at a meeting on Feb. 6, County Manager Chuck Stevens said.

rschafir@durangoherald.com