Fruita residents and commuters are staring down major disruptions as a full closure of South Mesa Street begins this week, cutting off the direct link between Park Square and Highway 6 & 50 during daytime hours. The work has also forced the Fruita Police Department to close its lobby to the public for the duration of the project.

The closure runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is expected to last at least three weeks, city officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

What Exactly Is Happening on South Mesa

Crews are replacing underground water lines and repaving the street from Park Square south to the Highway 6 & 50 intersection. The project is part of Fruita’s 2024 infrastructure improvement plan that targets aging pipes installed in the 1970s.

“This section of South Mesa has been on our repair list for years,” said Fruita Public Works Director Mike Bennett. “The water main keeps breaking, and the road surface is shot. We have to do it now before winter sets in.”

During work hours, no vehicles will be allowed through the construction zone. Local residents who live on South Mesa will still have access to their driveways, but everyone else must detour.

Police Station Lobby Closed Until Further Notice

The police department building sits right in the heart of the construction zone. Starting Wednesday, the lobby is closed to walk-in traffic.

Police services are not interrupted. Officers are still on duty, dispatch is fully staffed, and emergency response remains unchanged.

“We didn’t want people trying to park or walk through an active construction site,” said Fruita Police Chief Chad Reed. “It’s safer for everyone if we keep the public out of the work area.”

Non-emergency calls should still go to 970-858-3008. For emergencies, dial 911 as always. Records requests and fingerprinting services are being handled by appointment only for now.

Detours and Alternate Routes You Need to Know

The official detour sends drivers west on Aspen Avenue, south on Maple Street, then east on Pabor Avenue to reach Highway 6 & 50. The reverse works for northbound traffic.

Here are the three fastest alternate routes locals are already using:

• Aspen to Maple to Pabor (city’s official detour)
• Coulson Street to Highway 6 & 50 (adds about 4 minutes)
• Mulberry Street to 18 Road to Patterson (best for west-side residents)

City officials warn that the detour using Maple and Pabor will get heavy quickly. “If everyone takes the same route, it’s just moving the bottleneck,” Bennett said.

How Bad Will the Delays Really Be

Morning and afternoon rush hours are expected to be the worst. Parents dropping kids at Fruita Monument High School and commuters heading to Grand Junction will feel the biggest impact.

“Leaving five minutes earlier isn’t going to cut it,” said long-time resident Sarah Martinez, who lives off South Mesa. “We’re talking fifteen to twenty minutes added if you’re trying to get to the highway.”

Local businesses along the detour routes are bracing for either a flood of extra traffic or a sharp drop in customers who normally cut through South Mesa.

Why This Couldn’t Wait Until Spring

City officials considered postponing the work but decided against it for two reasons.

First, the water main under South Mesa has ruptured three times since 2022, including a major break last winter that left residents without water for hours.

Second, asphalt plants close for the season soon. If Fruita waited until spring, the project would cost significantly more and likely stretch into summer tourist season.

“We know it’s terrible timing,” Bennett admitted. “But this is literally the last possible window to get it done this year.”

The project is expected to wrap up by mid-November, weather permitting. Once complete, residents will have a smoother road and reliable water service for decades to come.

For now, patience is the only option. Fruita is a small town that moves at its own pace, but for the next few weeks, that pace is going to feel painfully slow for anyone trying to get through the south side.

Drive safe, add extra time, and maybe wave to your neighbors while you’re stuck at that new four-way stop on Maple Street. We’ll all get through this together.