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Offseason is construction season in Aspen

Carolyn Sackariason
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN – As town slows down for the offseason, the city of Aspen is speeding up its spring projects that will create some delays for locals who remain here.

Four projects, to occur simultaneously throughout town, include curb and gutter replacements, street paving, storm-water improvements and a new line installation that will divert water from Castle Creek to the city’s planned hydropower plant.

Starting April 13 and lasting until June 1, there will be disruption on Mill Street and Puppy Smith Road where crews will install an 18-inch pipe that will divert stormwater from town and water from the Durant mine near the base of Aspen Mountain.



Currently, that water flows directly into the Roaring Fork River untreated. But after the newly installed line is connected to an existing 54-inch pipe at the intersection of Mill Street and Puppy Smith, that water will flow to catch basins in the Jenny Adair Wetlands.

The nearly $300,000 contract for Aspen Digger Inc. to do the work will go in front of the Aspen City Council on April 12 for approval, according to Tyler Christoff, a project manager in the city’s engineering department.




Christoff said the project is slated to be completed June 1 but “hopefully we can get it done before that.”

He added that there will be significant traffic control in the area but one lane of traffic will always be maintained.

Another contract for Heyl Construction to do curb and gutter replacement, as well as install ramps that conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act on sidewalks throughout town, is expected to go before the council on April 12.

The nearly $500,000 project will occur during the same dates of the stormwater project – April 13 to June 1.

Replacing curbs and gutters will take place on Galena Street from Hopkins to Cooper avenues; on Hunter Street from Main Street to Durant Avenue; on Spring Street from Main Street to Durant Avenue; and Mill and Monarch streets.

About 20 ADA ramps will be replaced at those corners if they warrant it, Christoff said.

“It will be a game-time decision,” he said.

Street paving around town also will occur this offseason.

Streets will be open but there will be intermittent on-street parking closures – up to 600 feet at a time.

“We will minimize the impacts as much as possible,” Christoff said.

There also will be significant work done this spring on Doolittle Drive near Aspen Valley Hospital and the surrounding residential neighborhoods. A pipeline will be installed that will eventually deliver water from Castle Creek via Thomas Reservoir to the city’s new hydropower plant below the Castle Creek Bridge.

The reservoir is located at the city’s water facility at the top of Doolittle Drive.

csack@aspentimes.com