Improvements coming to Snowmass Drive

PRESS RELEASE
January 10, 2018

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County and the town of Carbondale have entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), in which the former will pay for a sidewalk and trail along a stretch of Snowmass Drive, and the latter then will assume all future maintenance of the entire road.

Snowmass Drive, some of which is currently a county road, will be annexed into the town of Carbondale following the joint project. In the exchange, Carbondale has also agreed to take over winter maintenance of White Hill Road, as well as a portion of Sopris Drive year-around.

“They are going to take over the maintenance of Snowmass Drive, as well as White Hill Road, which will help our Road and Bridge Department,” said Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. “I see the benefits.”

Carbondale is designing the path and a retaining wall along Snowmass Drive, and will oversee construction. Garfield County is covering the cost of the improvements in a supplemental budget request out of the 2018 Road and Bridge reserve fund.

“This pathway will fill a gap in Carbondale’s bike and pedestrian network that has been identified as a top priority for more than a decade,” said Carbondale Trustee Ben Bohmfalk. “This was made possible by the combined support of the county, the town, and some strong advocacy from students at Crystal River Elementary School. This is a win for everyone involved.”

Garfield County Manager Kevin Batchelder said the proposed trail will help connect the Crystal River Trail and local schools with the Rio Grande Trail along Snowmass Drive.

“This will really help out connections in that neighborhood,” added Commissioner John Martin.

The IGA was adopted, 3-0.