PAGOSA SPRINGS – Good things come to those who wait – but waiting is the hard part.
The town of Pagosa Springs is undergoing a major two-year reconstruction of U.S. Highway 160 through downtown, disrupting daily life and reducing traffic to local shops and restaurants.
The project will replace asphalt between Second and Eighth streets with concrete and improve traffic flow, fire infrastructure, sidewalks and utilities, said Adair Christensen, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The work will unfold in two phases, Christensen said. Westbound lanes are closed this summer, and eastbound lanes will close in summer 2026.
With asphalt torn up, the town can upgrade water, sewer, gas and geothermal lines, as well as communications, electrical conduits and storm drains. Above ground, the town will install new sidewalks, improved crosswalks, ADA-compliant ramps, shade trees and streetlights.
The construction has resulted in the loss of storefront parking and has made navigating town slightly more difficult, said Dallas Weaver, owner of Foot Prints Shoe Store.
“I try to see the glass as half full, and our main numbers have been good,” Weaver said. “I'm down 11% compared to where I was last year, and it’s probably due in part to the construction.”
Weaver said business is better than expected, and the short-term disruption is worth the long-term benefits that come with infrastructure improvements.
“In the spirit of it all, you can choose to be angry or you can choose to be happy and see the good coming out of the bad,” Weaver said. “It’s construction, and construction is a mess, but it'll be beautiful on other side.”
But for Amanda Jones, owner of San Juan Eatery, the construction has hit harder. She said lost parking outside her restaurant has reduced foot traffic and prompted numerous complaints from customers struggling to access the business.
With 53 restaurants in Pagosa, and hers among the most difficult to reach, Jones said customers are more likely to choose easier-to-access options, she said.
Jones said her business is down 40% – largely a result of how hard it is to find parking. And though she received $5,000 in aid from the town, that’s hardly enough to sustain her through the two-year project.
To help offset the impact, the town has provided 200 temporary parking spots, said Kathleen McFadden, administrative manager for the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corp. and Main Street coordinator. She said the town is also launching the Cone Zone Care Program to support downtown businesses during construction.
McFadden works with the Colorado Department of Local Government’s Main Street Program, which provides guidance, tools and grants for downtown revitalization projects across Colorado. The Cone Zone Care Program, which McFadden spearheads, is meant to support businesses affected by the project.
“Because everything has completely changed downtown, we are launching our official campaign to promote community participation and support,” McFadden said. “Whenever the businesses have something that they want us to address, we're stepping up to be able to do that however we can.”
McFadden said the program is aimed at keeping money flowing downtown during construction and involves a two-part strategy.
The first part encourages residents to eat and shop downtown, keep receipts and submit them online. Purchases over $100 qualify for a monthly raffle, where participants can win one of three $100 gift cards to local businesses.
“The other part of it is just simply, ‘I commit,’ and that's for people who may or may not be able to support financially,” McFadden said.
McFadden said simply being downtown, showing support or posting online about favorite shops or restaurants can help attract visitors and travelers.
“I would urge people to stop and take in our beautiful downtown, because we are open,” McFadden said. “We have so much to offer, even with the construction. We have our wonderful, unique storefronts that are downtown. So please take the time to stop and join us, because you won't regret it.”
Pagosa is Open, a local business collaboration, is offering shoppers the Pagosa Passport – a coupon book full of discounts to shops and restaurants to encourage downtown visits. Passports are available at participating businesses and Sherpa Real Estate.
“We really want to make sure that we're making sure everybody's smiling as they come through town and understand that it's a temporary inconvenience for a very welcome, permanent improvement,” said James Dickoff, the town’s development director.
Jones said more can be done, such as lowering taxes during construction, adding signage and advertising, pursuing grants, hosting Main Street events and opening more crosswalks. But one of the best ways to support businesses, she said, is to shop local.
“Shop downtown, share your experiences with other tourists, stop on Main Street every chance you get,” Jones said.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
