Orchard Avenue Rebuild: What Grand Junction Needs To Know

It's not going be easy to avoid road work in Grand Junction this summer. Road construction is already underway on several popular east-west roads, including Ute and Pitkin (downtown), Four Canyons, and the sidewalk projects along Patterson.

Spring road work means projects that cause lane shifts, lane closures, and sometimes, longer commutes. We’re about to add one more. Travel much between 29 Road and Central High School?

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Where the Orchard Avenue Reconstruction Will Happen—and Why Now

Google Maps

Grand Junction Orchard Avenue reconstruction will focus on the eastern portion of the roadway, from 29 ½ Road to Warrior Way. The project will also include some improvements close to 31 Road. The area includes residential neighborhoods, schools, and churches, where safe roads are a priority. Funding for the project comes from a Colorado Department of Transportation grant meant for revitalizing Main Streets and projects that lean into safety and mobility.

What the Project Will Change for the Corridor

Construction crews will modernize the corridor with a new 10-foot shared-use path, new sidewalks, new drainage, and upgraded roadway pavement. The goal is to increase safer access for pedestrians and cyclists while helping the flow of local traffic. The work may affect customer access and daily routines now, but in the long-run, the plan makes the area easier to navigate.

Traffic Closures, Construction Timeline, and Why It Matters

Garrett Aitken

Portions of Orchard Avenue may be required to close, especially near 31 Road. Access will remain for residents and businesses once the work begins in late April or early May. If you live in town and travel through this area often, you know it is due for an upgrade. As Grand Junction continues to grow, it is good to see aging infrastructure being replaced. While preparations for this project begin later this month, Phase 1 is expected to take until early 2027.

LOOK: Take a Drive Down Colorado's Devil Highway Route 666

Today we are taking a look at a portion of America's Route 66 that was given the name Route 666 back in the 1920s. This road was the 6th extension built on Route 66 giving it the designation Route 666. It was quickly given the nickname, 'The Devil Highway'.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

NEXT UP: Are You Brave Enough to Drive Colorado's Most Perilous Roads?

Slivers of asphalt cling to mountainsides with barely enough room for a subcompact car, let alone the monster RVs peppering the roadways. Blind corners leave even the most experienced drivers wondering what awaits around the bend. Let's not forget the thousand-foot drops with nothing between safety and impending doom but a thin slice of gravel -- talk about white knuckles.

If you're brave enough to "risk your life" for beautiful views, you won't be disappointed.

How many of these dangerous roads have you traveled in Colorado?

Gallery Credit: Tim Gray

MORE: 20 Things You Should Never Do When Driving in Colorado

Colorado and I-70 are home to some pretty crazy motorists. While Colorado may not be the state with the most reckless drivers or accidents, there are plenty of things people do on the roads that drive us all nuts. Sound off on things you see Colorado drivers doing that would upset anybody.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

Source: Orchard Avenue in Grand Junction Could See Big Traffic Changes