2023 Poncha Boulevard Improvements
Poncha Blvd serves as one of the primary collector roads and western entrances into Salida. Planned growth along the western perimeter of Salida and within Poncha Springs will continue to cause an increase in vehicles, bike traffic, and pedestrians for years to come. Needed improvements were identified in prior planning efforts and confirmed through subsequent traffic studies and engineering processes.
City Council initiated preliminary planning along this corridor in 2009. These planning efforts were revitalized in 2020. Since then, the first phase of improvements were completed in 2021, which began at the Monarch Spur Trail and ended at Crestone Avenue. This included the addition of bike lanes, a detached sidewalk and multiuse path, intersection improvements, stormwater enhancements, and green space improvements. Similar upgrades are underway beginning at 5th Street and extending to Holman Avenue. The street section is intended to provide traffic calming, improve the user experience for bikers and pedestrians, and enhance the City's aesthetic and tree canopy.
Landscaped pockets along the golf course property and Thonhoff Park are proposed by the City as well as providing parkway strips where property owners would be encouraged to utilize the City's adopt-a-tree program. Additional aesthetic improvements shown would include bump-outs with colored concrete and short medians with landscaping at several intersections. The City has also identified sustainable construction practices for this project which include recycling of existing asphalt materials as well as water conservation measures. Renderings for the project are provided in the files attached below.
Project News
- August 28, 2023: Poncha Blvd. Street Closure East of Holman Ave
Tentative Construction Schedule
- Spring 2023: Sanitary sewer main and water service line replacements
- Summer and Fall 2023: Roadway improvements along Poncha Blvd. from Crestone Ave. to Grant St.
- Fall 2023: Final landscaping of islands and area along Thonhoff Park
- Summer 2023: Completion of Phase 1 as shown on the attachment
- Fall 2023: Completion of a portion of Phase 2. Construction is anticipated to be either terminated at Adams Street or at Holman Avenue but will be dependent on the weather and construction progress.
- Summer 2024: Completion of Phase 2. Final landscaping of islands and linear trail along golf course
