Spanish Valley multi‑use path moves toward bids; $1.1 million local gap remains

County staff on April 7 told the Grand County Commission that the Spanish Valley Drive multi‑use pathway has reached about 90% design and is scheduled to be advertised for bids later this year, with construction targeted to begin in 2027.

The project combines active‑transportation elements with drainage and utility protection. Staff said UDOT contributed $2.7 million in 2021; recent estimate adjustments put the total at roughly $3.8 million, creating an uncovered gap of about $1.1 million. Maddie Lawitz, the county’s trails director, told commissioners the county will need to decide whether to bridge the gap with local funds or scale the scope and phase work to fit available resources. She said right‑of‑way negotiations are nearly complete for four affected properties and appraisals will be presented at the next meeting.

Why it matters: the pathway is intended to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and reduce vehicle conflicts on Spanish Valley Drive while addressing long‑standing drainage and utility needs. Commissioners probed several options: fully fund to finish to Resource Boulevard, phase construction to the next logical terminus if funds fall short, or explore additional state and federal grant sources. County staff said UDOT will require a letter of commitment from the county once 100% plans are ready.

What’s next: staff told the commission appraisals for impacted parcels should be ready within weeks and recommended bringing the funding decision back for action at a future meeting. Commissioners asked staff to refine phasing options and identify additional grant sources and matching strategies before committing county dollars.

Attribution: project schedule and estimate details were provided by county trails staff and the county engineer during the April 7 presentation; commissioners discussed next steps.