Week of Dec. 15-19
As the holiday season approaches, we want to offer our heartfelt thanks to the Pagosa Springs community. To the local businesses, residents, visitors and town partners who have shown patience, grace and collaboration — thank you. Your willingness to work with us, adjust to changing conditions and stay engaged has been truly appreciated.
Building a better and safer U.S. 160 is a team effort, and your support has played an important role in every milestone we reached this year.
We extend our warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year. We look forward to continuing our partnership in 2026.
Work activity
• 8th Street intersection: The project team is finalizing work on the 8th Street intersection, including cleaning and pouring asphalt for the winter season. The plan is to have the intersection completely open before the holiday break.
• 400 block: The team, in conjunction with the town, is ensuring the 400 block is well-lit prior to the holidays. The town is busy installing permanent lighting, and the project team is adding temporary solar lighting on the corner until permanent lighting is installed in the spring.
• The team will wrap up work on the U.S. 160 project by the end of the day, Friday, Dec. 19, returning to the project on Jan. 5, 2026.
• Changes in pedestrian crossings: With the new traffic shift there will be several locations that will no longer have pedestrian barriers where the sidewalks, curb and gutter have been completed. Please pay attention when traversing the roadway and use identified crossings.
Snow removal plan
A coordinated snow removal team has been assembled to support the U.S. 160 reconstruction project and help keep downtown Pagosa Springs safe and accessible throughout the winter. This team includes Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) maintenance personnel, the WW Clyde construction team and Town of Pagosa Springs Public Works staff.
How the snow removal team will work
The team has developed a unified plan to quickly respond to major snowstorms. The shared goals are to:
• Keep U.S. 160 through downtown clear and passable.
• Support emergency access routes.
• Maintain access to schools, businesses and essential services.
CDOT snow removal duties
• CDOT will maintain the U.S. 160 main business corridor.
• CDOT will provide an additional snowplow dedicated to supporting operations in the downtown corridor.
• To allow for safe and efficient snow clearing in this new configuration:
On-street parking will be unavailable between 1st Street and 10th Street due to space constraints and snow removal operations.
Snow will be pushed to the center median, next to the concrete barrier, until crews can haul it away.
Town of Pagosa Springs snow removal duties
• The town will plow town streets.
• The town will prioritize school bus routes during snow events.
• After prioritizing school bus routes, the Town of Pagosa Springs has agreed to prioritize the alleyways behind main street (100-400 blocks) to help businesses maintain rear access for needs such as ski rentals, prescription pickups, bakery access, deliveries and similar services.
• The town will be responsible for hauling away snow piles.
Business owner responsibilities
We kindly remind downtown business owners that they are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of their buildings.
Do not shovel or push snow into the roadway. This creates safety hazards and disrupts the coordinated snow removal efforts. Colorado law (Colorado Statute 43-5-310) and local ordinances prohibit the plowing, blowing or shoveling of snow onto public roadways.
Help protect new concrete sidewalks this winter
• Do not use salt or standard ice melt on new concrete during the first winter.
• New concrete is still curing and salt causes permanent surface damage.
• Salt leads to scaling, flaking and spalling from freeze-thaw cycles.
• Chlorides in salt can chemically weaken concrete and cause steel reinforcement to rust.
• Once damaged, concrete deterioration worsens each winter and is costly to repair.
• Use these safer alternatives instead: sand (best for traction), nonclumping kitty litter or concrete-safe de-icers such as calcium magnesium acetate.
Stay informed and connect with the project
• Call the project information line: (970) 335-9230.
• Email the project team: Pagosa160reconstruction@gmail.com.
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