Cottonwood Pass Concept Design | Eagle & Garfield Counties
About the Project:
CDOT supported Eagle and Garfield counties to design safety improvements on county roads that traverse Cottonwood Pass. Concept designs were prepared with public input for safety improvements at 14 specific locations along the county roads that cross through both Eagle and Garfield counties (6 locations in Eagle County, 8 in Garfield County). These locations were defined by the counties based on known safety issues.
Although CDOT and both counties agree Cottonwood Pass is not an endorsed detour route for Interstate 70 traffic in the event of a Glenwood Canyon closure, Cottonwood Pass is a vital connection for local residents who rely on it to safely travel between Gypsum and Colorado Highway 82 in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Project Facts
- Timeline: June 2022 - September 2023. Project schedule information below.
- Location: This Cottonwood Pass Concept Design project is located within Eagle and Garfield counties.
This project assessed existing conditions and defined concept level improvements. Potential site improvements included curve softening, improved sight distance and increased road width in specific areas to accommodate two vehicles passing. Overall widening and broad scale paving of the corridor is planned or being considered.
With the information provided by this project, Eagle and Garfield counties will ultimately determine if and when improvements at each site would move forward. Further design and construction of potential improvements is not funded at this time.
The Cottonwood Pass Concept Design (Eagle and Garfield Counties) project began June 2022 and was completed in September 2023. This project only involves taking the design to a conceptual (approximately 10%) level of completion. Funding for further design and construction has not yet been secured.
- Right-of-Way Survey: June – Sept. 2022
- Data Collection and Review (traffic and safety, geotechnical, environmental): July – Oct. 2022
- Develop/Evaluate Initial Design Options: Aug. 2022 - Feb. 2023
- Develop/Refine Design Concepts: Dec. 2022 - March 2023
- Prepare Concept Design Report: Feb. - Fall 2023
- Public and Agency Engagement: Throughout project
