Grand Junction city leaders voted on August 20, 2025, to revert the 4th and 5th Street project back to its original setup south of Grand Avenue, citing safety issues and navigation problems from the pilot changes. This decision aims to restore easier downtown access while keeping some traffic calming features in place, with work set to start soon.
City Council Makes Key Vote
The Grand Junction City Council passed a resolution in a 4-3 vote during their August 20 meeting. This move targets the area south of Grand Avenue, where the pilot project had turned streets into one-lane, one-way paths with protected bike lanes.
Officials heard from residents and reviewed data before deciding. The vote reflects ongoing debates about balancing safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in a busy downtown corridor.
North of Grand Avenue, through residential zones near Hawthorne Park, the setup will stay the same. This compromise came after earlier discussions in May 2025, when the council first considered splitting the project at Grand Avenue.
Reasons Behind the Reversion
The pilot project, launched in 2024, aimed to cut speeds and boost safety by narrowing lanes and adding bike protections. But it led to more crashes, injuries, and confusion for drivers.
Mayor Cody Kennedy explained that the changes made parking tough and navigation tricky in downtown areas. Data showed little drop in crash numbers, though injuries fell slightly in some spots.
Key issues included:
- Higher accident rates due to the new layout.
- Difficulty for drivers to find parking or maneuver.
- Feedback from locals about unsafe conditions for all users.
Kennedy noted that even without changes, upkeep would cost money. The reversion addresses these problems while adding narrower lanes to slow traffic.
Recent city reports from July 2025 highlighted costs and safety stats, pushing the council to act. This fits a broader trend in Colorado cities tweaking urban designs based on real-world results.
Planned Changes and Improvements
The reversion will restore two-lane, one-way roads south of Grand Avenue, similar to before the pilot. Bike lanes will go away in this section, but lanes will narrow to 11 feet with side delineators for better speed control.
Crews plan to remove current delineators and widen corridors where needed. This setup should make downtown easier to use while keeping some safety gains.
| Feature | Original Setup | Pilot Changes | New Reversion Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Configuration | Two-lane, one-way | One-lane, one-way with bike lane | Two-lane, one-way with narrower lanes |
| Bike Lanes | None | Protected by parking | Removed south of Grand Avenue |
| Parking | Diagonal on one side | Parallel and diagonal | Restored to original |
| Speed Control | Standard widths | Narrowed for calming | 11-foot lanes with delineators |
These adjustments build on lessons from the pilot, which ran for about a year.
Community Reactions Mixed
Some residents welcome the change, saying the pilot caused too much hassle. Drivers reported more stress from tight lanes and limited parking.
Others, like local cyclist Travis Reed, praise the current bike lanes for safer rides. He noted more people using e-bikes and bikes courteously, with better waits for pedestrians.
Social media posts show split views, with some calling for full reversion and others wanting to keep bike-friendly features. This echoes earlier resident feedback in May 2025, when the council heard similar concerns.
The decision ties into wider talks about urban mobility in growing cities like Grand Junction, where balancing cars, bikes, and foot traffic remains a hot topic.
Timeline and Costs for the Project
Work kicks off on September 2, 2025, starting from Ute Avenue to Grand Avenue along 4th Street. The full reversion should wrap up quickly to minimize disruptions.
The city budgets $70,000 for these adjustments, covering concrete work, restriping, and removals. Officials say this is less than ongoing fixes if they kept the pilot.
This project aligns with other local efforts, like airport runway updates in Grand Junction, showing a focus on infrastructure that works for everyone.
Looking Ahead for Grand Junction Streets
As Grand Junction grows, this reversion highlights the need for flexible urban planning. It draws from data and community input to create streets that serve all users safely.
City leaders will monitor speeds and crashes after the changes. They may review lane widths again if needed, based on new feedback.
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