The Spanish Valley Drive Pathway is envisioned as a ten-foot wide multiuse corridor, winding down the west side of Spanish Valley Drive for commuters and visitors to walk and bike on. The path will go by the Arroyo Crossing subdivision, where hundreds of housing units are planned to be built in the next few years.
The project is funded with Hotspot funding from the Utah Department of Transportation, but an additional task was added to the project’s scope at this week’s Grand County Commission hearing.
Recent storms and flooding have highlighted the need for stormwater improvements in the area. According to staff, stormwater topped Spanish Valley Drive, crossing the road and causing property damage across the road and to the north of the Arroyo Crossing development.
Commissioner Bill Winfield said that he had seen the damage caused by runoff from water overwhelming drainage at the Arroyo Crossing development.
“I think we really need to involve Arroyo Crossing, as well as consider looking at both sides of the road,” said Winfield.
“Putting it into the bid package for the pathway would be the most efficient solution, as opposed to having two separate projects,” said County Strategic Development Director Chris Baird. “And obviously since the infrastructure is right under the pathway, it’s kind of essential.”
Commissioners voted to allow staff to work with engineering company Jones & DeMille, the contractors for the pathway, to combine the stormwater mitigation project with their bid for the design and construction of the pathway. Hotspot funding would not fund the stormwater project; those costs will have to come from the county or a loan or grant from the state Community Impact Board. A preliminary estimate included with the proposal puts costs at a maximum of $859,000.
“It’s an opportunity to resolve the issue,” said Baird. “If we don’t address it now, then I think it would be a lot more expensive to try to fix it in the future.”
The commission passed the go-ahead for the change order unanimously. The design and cost revisions, as well as options for funding, will be presented in the future.
“There’s still quite a bit more discussion to be had,” said Baird.
