Grigs Road paving project to begin in June
The unpaved Grigs Road, which connects Castle Pines and Highlands Ranch, is scheduled for paving this summer and phase one should be completed by the start of the 2025 school year.
Drivers will soon enjoy a smoother ride between Castle Pines and Highlands Ranch as a long-anticipated project to pave Grigs Road is scheduled to begin this summer. The gravel road is being upgraded to a paved surface.
“Grigs is our top priority,” said Dan Roberts, assistant director of operations for Douglas County Public Works (DCPW). “We kicked off a high priority gravel road paving program. This one has been on that list for a long time.”
DCPW tracks annual maintenance costs for roads to make ongoing decisions for upgrades. Roberts said that Grigs Road is one of the most expensive gravel roads to take care of; in 2023, nearly $250,000 was spent on maintenance costs alone, and that figure does not include snow removal.
The paving project will be completed in two phases. Phase one is expected to start in June and will extend the existing asphalt pavement from Daniels Park Road to the East/West Regional Trailhead and Pavilion’s parking lot. The first phase should be completed by the start of the 2025 school year. Phase two will pave from the trailhead to where Grigs Road is already paved in Highlands Ranch.
“It will be a nice improvement and help us with the maintenance on that road,” added Roberts.
Crews will be widening the road, installing curb and gutter, lowering the speed limit from 35 to 25 miles per hour and installing “elk crossing” signs.
“A big herd of elk live in the area. We don’t have any evidence of crashes, but we are concerned that if traffic increases, we might see some,” Roberts shared.
Temporary detours may be necessary during both phases, but access to the trailhead will be maintained throughout construction.
Funding for the project will come from the road and bridge fund that Douglas County residents pay through their property taxes. The estimated cost is $3 million.
For updates on the Grigs Road paving project, visit douglas.co.us/public-works/projects/grigs-road-paving-project/. If residents have questions before or after the project, Roberts said they should reach out to project manager, Brian Schultz at bschultz@douglas.co.us or by phone at 303-947-8721.
Article by Mindy Stone; photo courtesy of Douglas County Public Works
