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Animas River Trail will march toward Three Springs

Construction is planned to begin this year
The city of Durango is designing and will begin construction on trail sections that will connect the Animas River Trail with Three Springs via the Bridge to Nowhere. The city plans to ask for public input on the designs in and routes June 23 at Carver Brewing Co.

The city is starting design work and construction on trail sections that will link the Animas River Trail to Three Springs this summer.

“It’s a key connection in terms of transportation and recreation,” said Amber Blake, director of transportation and sustainability.

The Animas River Trail currently ends at River Road. But eventually the city plans on building a continuous trail to Three Springs. Once the trail crosses U.S. Highway 160 to connect to Three Springs it will be part of the Smart 160 Trail.

The trail connection between Three Springs and the Grandview interchange has been designed, and construction will begin this summer with a $1.4 million Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation & Economic Recovery grant, Blake said.

The main trail extension will run fairly parallel to Highway 160 and connect with an existing trail in Three Springs, said Kevin Hall, assistant director of community development.

The city is also planning a spur that will connect to the Wilson Gulch Road. This road is currently under construction, and it is envisioned as the new retail center in Three Springs.

The Federal Transit Administration is also providing $400,000 for design for the trail from River Road where it currently ends to Farmington Hill, Hall said.

The project has faced delays because an eagle nest was believed to be near the proposed trail connection, but it was found not to be active, he said.

The city hopes to finish most of the design this year, but several big decisions remain.

Still undetermined are the location where the trail will cross Highway 160 to eventually connect to the trail beneath the Bridge to Nowhere and the exact route of the trail. Hall plans to present several options to the public at an upcoming meeting and joint meeting of the Parks and Recreation and Multi Modal advisory boards.

If the boards pick an alignment to pursue between the terminus of the Animas River Trail and Farmington Hill, it will guide the necessary property easements for the trail, Hall said.

A public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. June 23 at Carver Brewing Co. where the community can review maps of the new trail sections and provide input on plans.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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