A major water line upgrade in Rifle has kicked off this week, and local drivers are already feeling the squeeze. Crews started tearing up Birch Avenue on Monday, marking the first step in a project that’s all about getting clean water from the city’s plant to the Deerfield Water Tank Complex.

Road Closures Catch Some Drivers Off Guard

Some residents say they barely saw this one coming. Birch Avenue is now closed to thru traffic, and that’s just the beginning.

City officials warned drivers that parts of 7th Street, 16th Street, and Graham Mesa Avenue will also see crews and cones. For anyone who relies on these roads to get to work, the grocery store, or school drop-offs — well, buckle up for delays.

One local mom, Carla Henderson, told us she had to add 15 minutes to her school run just to weave around the detours. “I get it, we need better pipes,” she said with a sigh. “But man, the timing couldn’t be worse. Summer’s already busy enough.”

What’s Actually Happening Under the Asphalt?

So what’s really going on down there? This isn’t just a quick patch job — the city is installing an all-new water transmission line that will run from the water plant straight up to the Deerfield tanks.

Basically, this means:

• Crews have to dig up stretches of road to lay new pipes

• Road surfaces will be repaired and improved once the pipes are in place

• Traffic control will stay in place for safety

That’s the nuts and bolts of it. The project is meant to keep Rifle’s water system reliable for decades. Some pipes in this area date back to the ‘70s, which is pretty old in pipe years.

Who’s Paying for It? And How Much?

Alright, the million-dollar question: what’s this going to cost? Or more like multi-million.

According to the City of Rifle’s budget documents for 2025, the water transmission line replacement is part of a $5.2 million infrastructure upgrade package. A chunk of this is funded through water utility fees and some state grants.

Local councilor Mark Garcia says the investment is necessary. “It’s the backbone of our water system. If these pipes fail, we’d have outages that nobody wants,” he said at a recent council meeting.

One-liner time: Still, that’s small comfort for businesses losing foot traffic on Birch.

How Long Will This All Drag On?

There’s no sugarcoating it — the timeline is measured in months, not weeks.

The city says Birch Avenue is just the first leg of the replacement. Work will snake across to 7th Street next, then along 16th and Graham Mesa. If the weather plays nice and crews stay on schedule, they’re hoping to wrap up major digging by late October.

One public works supervisor, who asked not to be named because he wasn’t authorized to speak, said the biggest risk is rain. “If we get heavy storms, the ground turns to soup. Makes everything harder.”

Local Businesses Brace for a Slowdown

The folks running shops near Birch aren’t thrilled either. Foot traffic dips when roads close — everyone knows that. But some store owners are trying to stay optimistic.

Maya Torres, who owns a small café on 7th Street, said she’s thinking up creative ways to lure regulars back in. “I’m offering discounts to anyone who can show me a detour sign selfie!” she laughed.

It might sound silly, but every latte counts. A Colorado Small Business Development Center study found that road construction can cut local retail sales by 15-30%. That’s a hit nobody wants in a tight economy.

Here’s a look at how long different parts of the project might take, according to a draft schedule shared at City Hall:

One sentence: Add a few weeks for paving, and you’re looking at a bumpy ride until fall.

What Should Drivers Do Now?

Look, nobody wants to get stuck behind a flagger or a backhoe on their lunch break. So here are a few tips if you’re driving through Rifle:

Some folks are already using neighborhood side streets, which can be a double-edged sword — faster for you, but noisier for residents. The city asks everyone to stick to posted detours.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Traffic crews are trying to keep at least one lane open wherever they can, and work hours are mostly during the day to avoid late-night racket.

A Reminder of Why This Matters

It’s easy to grumble about torn-up roads and orange cones. But for a town that depends on steady water for homes, schools, and local farms, this work matters.

Rifle’s water plant pumps out roughly 2.5 million gallons daily, serving thousands of residents. Cracked pipes mean leaks, wasted water, and costly emergency repairs down the line.

In short, better pipes today mean fewer headaches tomorrow.

Locals like Carla Henderson say they’ll just grit their teeth. “I’ll deal with the detours,” she said. “As long as the water keeps coming when I turn the tap.”