It feels like springtime is in full swing, with the spring equinox taking place tomorrow, March 20.
Springtime makes me think of Easter and flowers. And, spring flowers mean it is almost time for hanging basket season at the Chamber.
Stay tuned for more details coming forward and, in the meantime, enjoy all the birds that are everywhere.
Construction season
The 2026 construction season began March 16 and will run through the end of the year. Paving activities are planned from March through November.
We are at the beginning of the end and everyone, including the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), is looking to make this a well-informed and on-time construction season.
One of this spring’s biggest impacts will be the temporary closure of the Lewis Street intersection at U.S. 160 from March 16 through the end of May so crews can replace and protect a dense network of underground utilities, including multiple water mains; sanitary sewer connections; large storm drains; and various electrical, fiber, gas and geothermal lines. Only the access from U.S. 160 to Lewis Street will be closed, with Lewis Street itself remaining open and signed detours via 4th, 5th and 7th streets to maintain access to nearby homes and businesses.
Later this spring, CDOT expects “Dog Leg” construction to shift to a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week schedule for about two weeks in mid-April, with traffic reduced to one lane and controlled by flaggers. On-street parking along the project corridor will largely remain unavailable until final pavement markings are completed at the end of the project. Some parking areas, such as the overlook lot, will close in two shorter phases rather than one long shutdown, coordinated with the town and supported by new signage to other parking options.
Holiday timing is also part of the plan. With Pagosa Springs celebrating the America 250-Colorado 150, and hosting Park 2 Park and the Red Ryder Roundup, CDOT expects to pause most work over the Fourth of July weekend, with only limited activity immediately before and after the holiday.
Residents and business owners can stay informed through CDOT’s project hotline at (970) 335-9230, the project email — pagosa160reconstruction@gmail.com — and the project website at codot.gov/projects/us160pagosasprings, where they can also sign up for weekly email blasts.
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