In-stream work at Whitewater Park has been extended another two weeks, meaning the Animas River likely won’t be open to boaters until at least April 15.
It was the second time the city of Durango asked for a deadline extension to finish the project, which will create what’s hoped to be a world-class river-running venue at Smelter Rapid.
April 15 is getting close to the day when some rafting companies begin running trips on the lower Animas River through Durango, although it isn’t until around Memorial Day when tourist season arrives and the weather warms up enough for the casual user.
Rock-moving and grouting of the new features at the park should be completed this month, Cathy Metz, director of Durango Parks and Recreation, said Monday. The deadline extension will allow contractor Ted Seipel Construction of Eagle to do some work between the four newly built concrete structures in the river.
“We have some cleanup work with the track hoe in the river in between those four bank-to-bank structures,” Metz said. “That’s the piece we needed additional time to do.”
That work includes moving some rocks to create water features in those areas between the structures. Those smaller clusters of rocks will not be fixed in place. Also, some debris will be taken from the river.
“We just have quite a bit of work to do and just couldn’t get it all done because we wanted to get those grouted structures done,” Metz said. “That was our priority.”
Under its new extension through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, construction machinery must be out of the Animas River by April 15. That’s fine by Alex Mickel, owner of Durango-based Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Trail Tours.
“It’s going to be a great project when it’s finished,” he said Monday afternoon. “If it takes a little patience now, it’s worth it. “We’re really excited about it. Durango’s been a whitewater mecca. To bring our (Whitewater Park) back to state of the art is exciting.”
When the in-stream work is complete, the city will begin construction on developments along the shore in that stretch. That work is expected to begin in May. The Animas River Trail will be widened and bleachers will be constructed at the river bend, among other improvements.
The construction delay will add costs to the project, both for acquiring more boulders and for the park designer, S2O Design and Engineering, to oversee extra work. The contractor’s bid came in well under the $1.3 million the city had budgeted for the project; Metz did not yet have figures on what the extra costs will be.
29th Street access
Metz also said Monday that river access at 29th Street and East Third Avenue will be closed until around May 1. The parking lot there is closed as construction continues.
The city removed a pumphouse and concrete intake structure there, and it is continuing construction on a new put-in and a reroute of the river trail. Also, a fishing pier is being moved.
Also, Metz said, residents should be aware of other possible road detours and intermittent delays as work is done to improve a walkway across East Third Avenue at 31st Street and to create a slightly raised walkway across 32nd Street at East Third Avenue.
The raised walkway across 32nd is a short-term solution, Metz said. The long-range plan, still a couple years off, is to construct a pedestrian bridge across the Animas River at about 31st Street and an overpass above 32nd Street behind north City Market.
johnp@durangoherald.com
