As part of the city’s “Year of Main Street” initiative, the Montrose City Council has awarded a $3.7 million in expenditures for its West Main Revitalization Project. The project, set to begin in March, aims to improve pedestrian mobility, safety, and accessibility along West Main Street, while enhancing the corridor’s overall streetscape.

“We’ll move the curblines out into underutilized parking areas, add bike lanes, and install ADA-compliant sidewalks with boulevard landscaping on both sides,” City Engineer Scott Murphy said during the Feb. 6 council meeting.

Montrose’s “Year of Main Street” encompasses more than $9 million in infrastructure projects designed to create a safer and more vibrant environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Improvements under this initiative include East Main water and storm sewer replacements and ongoing contracted street maintenance throughout the Main Street corridor.

The West Main Revitalization Project will introduce shrubs and boulders to soften the streetscape and improve pedestrian safety, but no trees due to space limitations. “There won’t be trees because there isn’t enough room,” Murphy explained. “But we want to break up the concrete jungle and create better separation to make it safer for pedestrians.”

The $3.38 million construction contract was awarded to Ridgway Valley Enterprises, which is currently working on the East Main utility replacement. Del-Mont Consultants was also awarded a $145,000 contract to provide survey and engineering support.Construction is scheduled to run through October 2025. Main Street will remain open throughout the project, with no full closures planned. Side street closures will occur as needed for certain ramp and drainage improvements.

“We’ll make sure there’s a pedestrian pathway on one side or the other throughout the project,” Murphy said. Traffic impacts will be minimized, with at least one lane open in each direction at all times.

Trenchless installation of sprinkler pipes will be used to reduce open trench excavations.Montrose will keep residents informed through targeted outreach, including updates on social media, email notifications, banners over Main Street, and business open house meetings.

The project’s $3.7 million budget includes $3.38 million for construction, $145,000 for survey and engineering support from Del-Mont Consultants, and $185,000 for materials testing and streetlight relocation.

Although the cost exceeds the city’s initial $3 million budget, city officials plan to offset the difference using savings from other projects. The improvements will also benefit from a $2 million grant through the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Revitalizing Main Streets Program.

“We’ll make sure there’s a pedestrian pathway on one side or the other throughout the project,” Murphy said.

Traffic impacts will be minimized with at least one lane open in each direction at all times. The project will also use trenchless installation methods for sprinkler pipes to reduce open trench excavations.

Montrose will keep the public informed through updates on social media, email notifications, and banners over Main Street, along with business open house meetings.

The project’s $3.7 million total includes $3.38 million for construction, $145,000 for Del-Mont Consultants’ survey and engineering work, and $185,000 for materials testing and streetlight relocation.

The project exceeds the initial $3 million budget, but city officials plan to offset the difference with savings from other capital projects.

More information and project updates can be found on the city’s Moving Montrose Forward website.

Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.