Ribbon cutting opens High Plains Boulevard

Published on October 20, 2026

A little rain couldn’t wipe away the smiles from those celebrating the completion of High Plains Boulevard. The new road, located east of Mead, opened last week following a ribbon cutting.

“This reflects a shared vision among stakeholders to increase safety and efficiency and continue to meet the growing traffic demand,” Weld County Commissioner Chair Scott James said at the event. “We have many people to thank for making this vision a reality — project contractors, developers, municipalities, counties, and state agencies who worked on different aspects of the project to bring it all to life.”

The project was brought to life following studies in 2003 and 2020 that showed the need for another north/south route east of Interstate 25. Last year, Weld County Public Works, Kraemer North America, the Town of Mead, and developers began building the road.

Weld County and Kraemer North America built a 1-mile portion of High Plains Boulevard — WCR 9.5 from WCR 32 to WCR 34, while the Town of Mead and developers built the 1-mile stretch from WCR 34 to WCR 36.

“When I think about how you bring things together, this road in particular, we always talk about public-private partnerships,” Weld County Commissioner Kevin Ross said. “This really is a public-private partnership. This is really, truly when you can make a successful endeavor happen, and it’s exciting to watch.”

Mead Mayor Colleen Whitlow also spoke, calling the opening of High Plains Boulevard an “exciting milestone for Mead and a project that will benefit our community for years to come.”

High Plains Boulevard features 12-foot lanes running north and south, shoulders, and bike lanes on each side of the road. Two concrete box culverts and a curb and gutter were built to assist with drainage. Two concrete roundabouts at WCR 32 and WCR 34 were built to help with traffic flow.

Funding for the county’s portion of High Plains Boulevard was shared. Weld County contributed $23.4 million and the Town of Mead contributed $635,000. In 2024, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs awarded the county a $1 million grant.