Officers eye completion of scenic 63-mile path in Colorado mountains | Way of life
A scenic Colorado bike path a few years and plenty of {dollars} within the making is right down to the final 12 miles.
Work has been underway this summer season on a stretch of pavement connecting Dotsero to Gypsum — one of many final 4 segments needing development to appreciate the complete Eagle Valley Path. As soon as full, cyclists will have the ability to pedal 63 miles between the highest of Vail Go to Glenwood Canyon with out utilizing the freeway.
For the additional daring, that will not be the one chance, mentioned Kevin Sharkey, trails program supervisor for Eagle County. Linking with different pavement, Eagle Valley Path will enable for driving near 140 miles from Breckenridge to Aspen off the freeway.
“Anyone concerned with sustainable tourism or bike excursions, this needs to be on their record of locations to go,” Sharkey mentioned. “Simply because it is a protected method to cowl quite a lot of miles in a good looking a part of the nation.”
Map displaying progress on the Eagle Valley Path
Whereas eco-tourism is one consideration, Eagle Valley Path was extra so envisioned to attach residents throughout Eagle County, from Vail to Minturn to Edwards on west by means of Eagle.
The concept is to “shift to greener, more healthy and extra inclusive journey” and “guarantee our communities have protected routes which might be accessible for all ages, talents and budgets,” explains the initiative’s web site. The path connects to bus stops, locations of labor and open areas.
Sharkey traced the thought to 1996, when a gross sales tax program was born to fund the regional path. Since then, more cash has come from native governments, state and federal grants and numerous donors.
The most recent main dedication: county commissioners’ $22 million pledge final 12 months, by means of borrowing that put a number of county buildings up as collateral.
“That speaks on to this mission and the way essential it’s,” Sharkey mentioned.
For the ultimate 12 miles, it is anticipated to take $38.2 million. The largest hole of path is between Edwards and Wolcott.
“We saved essentially the most troublesome and costliest segments for final,” Sharkey mentioned. “Right here we’re within the center a part of the county, and it is gonna be costly as a result of it is slim, and it is gonna take quite a lot of retaining partitions and several other bridges.”
Pending fundraising, he mentioned the purpose is to complete in 2024.