35th Ave. and O St. roundabout to open by end of day

Published on September 30, 2022

After more than five months of work to construct a roundabout at the intersection of 35th Ave. and O St. which will increase the safety and efficiency of the traveling public, the Weld County Department of Public Works, along with project manager IHC Scott, is pleased to announce the roundabout will be open to traffic by the end of the day Friday, Sept. 30.

“When this project began, it was our intention to complete it as quickly as possible, and crews have worked tirelessly, including on weekends, to meet that goal,” said Curtis Hall, Director of Weld County’s Department of Public Works. “We appreciate the public’s patience during this project and are excited to open this roundabout, which we believe will be beneficial now and in the future as Greeley and Weld County continue to grow.”

The project, which was split into phases, saw crews complete soil stabilization, utility relocations, the installation of new drainage pipes to make the roundabout resistant to flooding, curb and gutter work, concrete paving, striping and signing — all elements that will help ensure the roundabout’s lifespan of 30 years before major maintenance is required. Travelers can expect wider lanes to accommodate large agricultural equipment or tractor trailers, like the award-winning roundabout at Weld County Road 54 and 17, which opened in August of 2020. Earlier in the project, crews also eliminated a hill east of the intersection on O St., providing better visibility for those approaching the roundabout.  

“Our residents depend on us to provide a transportation system that meets their needs, so it was imperative that both urban and rural travelers were taken into account when designing and constructing this roundabout,” said Weld County Commissioner Chair Scott James. “We appreciate the work of our Public Works Department in designing the roundabout and the work of IHC Scott in construction, to make sure these needs were met.”

The project, which was recommended as a way to reduce crash and fatality risk at the intersection as well as delays during evening hours, was awarded to IHC Scott for just over $7.4 million on Jan. 31. The county received a $750,000 Energy and Mineral Impact grant from the Department of Local Affairs to help offset the cost. The City of Greeley contributed $1.6 million toward project costs and will annex the roundabout.

 What to expect with the roundabout open:

While the roundabout will open to traffic on Friday, the Department of Public Works wants to remind the public that workers will continue to complete minor elements of the project, such as shoulder and reclamation work. Temporary streetlights are being installed along the intersection, and crews will work on installing permanent streetlights over the next few months. As work continues, drivers are asked to be vigilant of crew members and to follow all signing and posted speed limits, which will be set 20 miles per hour inside the roundabout.