Grand Junction City Council just greenlit a nearly $3 million makeover for Crosby Avenue that will add protected bike lanes, a wide shared-use path, new lighting, and fresh pavement from Rimrock shopping areas all the way to Main Street. Work starts in April and wraps up by October 2025.
The contract, awarded to United Companies for $2.947 million, includes $1 million from Colorado Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Options Fund and the rest from city capital funds.
Why Crosby Avenue Needed This Upgrade Now
Crosby has long served as the main alternative to the clogged I-70B/Horizon Drive corridor for people traveling between north Grand Junction, downtown, and the Redlands. Daily traffic counts regularly top 10,000 vehicles, yet the street had no dedicated bike facilities and only patchy sidewalks.
City engineers say crash data showed an above-average rate of vehicle-bike conflicts and pedestrian incidents, especially near the Rimrock Walmart and the apartments along the route. Residents in Riverside and El Poso neighborhoods repeatedly asked for safer ways to reach downtown without driving.
“People told us they want to ride to work or walk to the store, but Crosby felt too dangerous,” said Trent Prall, the city’s Transportation and Engineering Director. “This project finally delivers that missing link.”
What Drivers, Bikers, and Walkers Will Actually See
The finished corridor will look dramatically different:
- A 10-foot-wide shared-use path on the south side for pedestrians and cyclists
- Protected bike lanes on both sides of the street, separated by flexible posts
- New LED streetlights along the entire length
- Full-depth pavement replacement and new curbs
- Upgraded storm drainage to stop the chronic flooding near 3rd Street
- New crosswalks and rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at key intersections
The shared-use path will tie directly into the existing Las Colonias trail system and the new Riverside Parkway improvements, creating a continuous off-street route from the Redlands to downtown for the first time.
Neighborhoods That Win Big
Riverside residents will gain a safe walking and biking route to Las Colonias Park and the riverfront amphitheater. Families in El Poso apartments will have a protected path to Walmart, Chipeta Elementary, and the lunch-loop trail network.
Local business owners along the corridor told council members the upgrades will bring more customers who bike or walk. One Rimrock-area shop owner said he already sees people park at Walmart and ride to his store, but they take risky routes on sidewalks or in traffic.
Road Closures and Timeline
Crosby Avenue will fully close to through traffic between 1st Street and 12th Street starting in April. Residents and business customers will still have access, but expect detours for everyone else.
Crews will work in phases to keep at least one adjacent street open at all times. The city promises substantial completion by late October 2025, just before winter.
Part of a Bigger Active-Transportation Push
This project joins a string of recent wins for non-car travel in Grand Junction: the completed Patterson Road protected lanes, the new North Avenue bike lanes, and the upcoming 1st Street two-way cycle track.
City officials say these connected investments are already paying off. Bike counts on North Avenue jumped 40 percent after protected lanes went in last year. Leaders expect similar results on Crosby.
For a city that sometimes feels car-dependent, the Crosby makeover sends a clear message: Grand Junction is serious about giving people real choices to drive less and move more safely.
The upgrades will not just fix potholes. They will change how thousands of us get around every single day.
What do you think: Will you ride or walk Crosby Avenue once the new lanes and path open? Drop your thoughts below, and tag #CrosbyMakeover if you share photos once construction starts.
