Grand Junction city council just greenlit a massive $2.9 million overhaul of Crosby Avenue that will finally give residents safe ways to bike and walk between Rimrock shopping areas and downtown. Construction starts in April, and when it wraps up in October, the corridor will have protected bike lanes, a 10-foot-wide shared-use path, new LED lighting, and fresh pavement from end to end.
Why Crosby Avenue Needed This Upgrade Now
Crosby has long been the forgotten back-door route between Rimrock Walmart and Main Street. Drivers use it to dodge the I-70 Business Loop chaos, but people on bikes and on foot have been taking their lives in their hands for years.
“No sidewalks, no lights, potholes you could lose a tire in,” said Riverside neighborhood resident Maria Sanchez, who walks Crosby to get to work. “I’ve had close calls with cars doing 45 in the dark.”
City data backs her up. Between 2019 and 2023, Crosby saw 30 crashes, including several involving pedestrians and cyclists. The new design directly attacks those dangers.
What Drivers, Bikers, and Walkers Actually Get
The project delivers far more than a simple repave. Here’s exactly what’s coming:
- Dedicated bike lanes in both directions
- A 10-foot-wide shared-use path on the south side
- New LED streetlights the entire length
- Full-depth pavement reconstruction
- New curbs, gutters, and ADA-compliant ramps
- Improved storm drainage to stop the seasonal flooding near 1st Street
The crown jewel is the separated path that finally gives kids, families, and commuters a safe off-street option from Rimrock to downtown.
“This ties together everything we’ve been building for the last decade,” said Trent Prall, the city’s Engineering and Transportation Director. “You’ll be able to ride from the Lunch Loop trails all the way to downtown without ever mixing with cars on Horizon Drive or the business loop.”
Where the Money Comes From
Total price tag: $2.9 million.
Colorado Department of Transportation kicked in $1 million through its Multimodal Options Fund. The rest comes from the city’s capital improvement budget and federal Community Development Block Grant money.
Council awarded the contract to United Companies, the same firm that just finished the North Avenue improvements. Locals know they move fast. United wrapped the 24 Road project three weeks ahead of schedule last year.
How Construction Will Affect Your Drive
Starting in April, Crosby Avenue will close completely to through traffic between 28 1/2 Road and Main Street.
Residents and business deliveries will still get in. Detour signs will push everyone onto Patterson Road or the I-70B corridor.
Work happens in phases to keep at least one neighborhood access point open at all times. The city promises the whole job finishes by late October, weather permitting.
The Bigger Picture for Grand Junction
This project is the missing link in a network that’s been slowly coming together.
Connect it west and you hit the Riverfront Trail system. Head east and you’re on the recently improved North Avenue bike lanes. Suddenly, huge chunks of the city are linked without forcing people into cars.
City planners say these investments pay off fast. Every $1 million spent on bike/ped infrastructure returns $11.80 in health, environmental, and economic benefits over 20 years, according to CDOT’s own numbers.
For families in Riverside and El Poso, the change feels personal.
“My kids will actually be able to bike to school without me having a heart attack,” said parent Jessica Romero. “That’s huge.”
When the dust settles this fall, Crosby Avenue won’t just be another road. It will become one of the safest, most useful east-west connections in the entire valley.
What do you think about the Crosby project? Are you excited to finally have a safe bike route to downtown, or worried about the construction headaches? Drop your thoughts below, and tag #CrosbyMakeover if you’re sharing photos once the path opens.
