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Riverside Parkway Opens with Fanfare!

The long-anticipated opening of the Riverside Parkway was greeted with enthusiasm from a crowd of nearly 800 residents on August 15 near the new bridge spanning US 50 at Fifth Street.
        Mayor Gregg Palmer thanked residents for their patience during the construction, and for approving the initial bond that helped pay for the Parkway.
        “You trusted us,” remarked Mayor Palmer. “We took that trust very seriously, and we have done exactly as you asked. Not only that, we have completed the project 15 months early and we will save millions in interest.” 
        Voters last fall gave approval for the City to restructure the debt on the project, using excess Tabor revenue to pay off the Riverside Parkway bonds when they come due in 2015.
        The grand opening celebration featured a display of vintage cars, City fire trucks and vehicles, and kart racers. Just as the ribbon was cut, a vintage airplane from Vintage Aviation flew overhead doing loops and trailing smoke, much to the delight of the crowd.  A miniature cannon shot Chick Fil-A stuffed cows sporting parachutes into the crowd, along with Big ‘O Tire t-shirts. There was cake and ice cream, music, and a festive atmosphere at the opening. Bicycle riders took advantage of a few hours without cars to ride the length of the Parkway, and the vintage cars took members of City Council for a spin, too.  A high-wheeler bicycle from Brown Cycles made the trip over the Parkway, reminiscent of the opening of the original Black Bridge in 1896, when a high-wheeler was the first to ride over the bridge. 
        The fun continued throughout the day at the Western Colorado Botanic Gardens and Bananas Fun Park, and into the evening with special activities for the public at the Glacier Ice Arena.  Thousands of people helped to celebrate the opening of the biggest project in the City’s history.

Parkway already making an impact

Preliminary traffic counts after only a month of operation show that the Riverside Parkway has already succeeded at one of its major goals—to reduce traffic congestion at First and Grand and along I-70B toward the mall.
        The traffic counts on First Street south of White Avenue show a 35% reduction in average daily trips, from an average of 32,209 vehicles to a post-Parkway average of 20,708 vehicles.  At the Rimrock Avenue and I-70B intersection, the average fell 30% from 40,655 vehicles per day to 28,107 vehicles per day.
        Transportation Engineering will continue to take counts and monitor traffic on the new Parkway and also on I-70B, but initial numbers indicate that the Parkway is being used and has definitely relieved traffic congestion.

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Riverside Parkway Phase 2 Construction Photos
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Riverside Parkway Phase 3 Construction Photos
 
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For additional information Email or call (970) 244-1540

Riverside Parkway Alternatives
Phase1
27 1/2 Road along D Road to 29 Road

Lower Downtown from 9th Street

Phase 2
24 Road to 25 Road

25 Road to Riverside Neighborhood


Phase 3
5th Street-Lower Downtown


Riverside Parkway Overall 24 Road to 29 Road

Riverside Parkway Phasing Maps
All Phases
Phase 1 - 9th Street to 29 Road
Phase 2 - 24 Road to 4th Street
Phase 3 - 4th Street to 9th Street

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Please contact the following staff at:
Riverside Parkway Office
2529 High Country Court
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 256-4177
Jim Shanks Program Manager
Paul Jagim Project Engineer
Riverside Parkway
project phases:
Phase 1
9th Street and Struthers Avenue to 29 and D Roads and 29 Road from the Colorado River to just north of D Road.


Visit the Project History page for completed Phase 1 construction photos and project information.
 
Phase 2
River Road from 24 Road to 4th Street.
Phase 2 - the reconstruction of River Road from 24 Road to Broadway, 25 Road overpass, and a new road on the east side of the Riverside neighborhood.
 

Phase 3
5th Street interchange -two bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad, the Riverside Parkway bridge over 5th Street, and widening of the existing 5th Street bridges over the Colorado River.

The $110 million dollar, seven mile project financed in part by the $80 million dollar 2003 bond issue passed by the voters and provides motorists an alternative to the Highway 6 and 50 corridor, and is part of a "loop" that will eventually connect with Interstate 70 at a proposed interchange at 29 Road.

The contractor for all three phases of the Riverside Parkway project was SEMA Construction.

 

This page updated
Friday, October 10, 2008
 
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