Bridge repair
The Garfield Board of County Commissioners approved “an amount not to exceed” $650,000 in emergency repair funds to mend the Thompson Creek Road bridge, spanning the Crystal River just northwest of Carbondale, according to a press release issued this week. One of the bridge’s lanes will mostly remain open during the next two to three weeks while crews repair the bridge deck — the structure directly supporting vehicles. Stop lights will control the flow of traffic; vehicles are limited to 24,000 pounds. “The county’s goal is to complete the repairs as safely and quickly as possible,” the release added, though the county did not give a definitive timeline for the repair.
Chip seal
Some Carbondale residents can expect limited parking access in front of their homes as the Town treats the surface of various residential streets from May 20 to 29, weather permitting. The operation will affect parking during work hours, which begin at 7am and can last until 6pm or until crews clear the site. Parking violators will be towed. “Residents should expect limited access to their homes during the operation,” a press release stated. Streets scheduled to undergo treatment include Ash Lane, Buggy Circle, Cara Court, Crystal Circle, Eastbank Point, Graceland Drive, Holland Drive, Indica Way, Keator Road, Linden Circle, Marble Court, Maroon Drive, Maroon Place, Melissa Lane, Vitos Way, West Ridge Court, from 2nd Street to Snowmass Drive on Capitol Avenue, from 8th Street to Main Street on Main Court and from Highway 133 to town limits on Dolores Way.
West GarCo on-demand
Western Garfield County will see improved public transit options as an on-demand bus service pilot program comes to Rifle, Parachute and Battlement Mesa beginning June 1, according to a press release. Riders can request a $1 lift in the service zones through the Ride PATS app from 11:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday, in Rifle and 11am to 6pm, Monday through Friday, in Parachute and Battlement Mesa. Launched in partnership between the City of Rifle, Town of Parachute, Garfield County and Battlement Mesa Service Association, the pilot program will supplement the existing Parachute Area Transit System, the release stated. For more information, visit www.ridepats.com
Basalt public transit
The Town of Basalt is expanding its local public transit to service additional locations and operate for longer hours during the summer months. Basalt Connect will now service Crown Mountain, Summit Vista and Emma. From June through August, the transit system will run from 7am to 10pm. For more information about Basalt Connect, visit basalt.net/basaltconnect
Feds on blast
Following Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) decision on April 28 to revoke the special use permit for facilities utilized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at 100 Midland Ave, suites 110 and 210, the United States General Services Administration was given seven days to appeal. The City has not received an appeal, according to Public Information Officer Bryana Starbuck, who added that, procedurally, the federal government has 28 days from the time of P&Z’s decision to appeal to district court. However, a press release at the end of April issued by the city stated that “federal agencies are not usually required to follow local building and zoning rules.”
Sixth Street revival
On Thursday, May 14, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at North Landing on 6th Street in Glenwood Springs to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated park and street. “These projects represent far more than physical improvements,” said Jillian Sutherland, executive director of the Glenwood Springs Downtown Development Authority. “They reflect nearly a decade of collaboration, persistence, and shared vision to create public spaces and streets that strengthen connections between downtown, neighborhoods, our parks and the people who call Glenwood Springs home.” (Glenwood Springs High School student Lauren Kaiser assisted with this Scuttlebutt item. Thanks, Lauren!)
Blackout
About 3,100 residents from Glenwood Springs to Silt were left without power for about five hours Saturday, May 16. After the lights went out, businesses in Glenwood Springs closed their doors for the day. An Xcel spokesperson told The Sopris Sun that on-site crews believed that the outage was caused by a “large foreign object,” possibly a tarp, that blew into transmission and distribution lines. The extensive duration was due to the power company entering “enhanced power safety settings” to conduct a “mandatory patrol on the transmission lines.” Xcel encourages folks to sign up for outage notifications online at co.my.xcelenergy.com or by calling 800-895-4999.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Tucker Farris and Wesley Niemer (May 21); Arn Menconi, Steve Beckley, Charlie Chacos, Mila Fomina, Frank Markoya and Bonnie Pletcher (May 22); Tai Jacober (May 23); Patti Hall, Hannah Horn, Steve Kuhl, Tom Mercer and Diego Rubio Ureña (May 24); Sean Connors, Charlie Cook and Paul Dankers (May 25); Dena Barnes, Amber Frisbie and Sue Hopper (May 26); Lacy Dunlavy, Richard Glasier, Jennifer Johnson and Myki Jones (May 27).