Crosby Avenue Reconstruction

Overview

Crosby Avenue links Main Street with the Rimrock Shopping Center and serves as an alternative route to the I-70B corridor. Crosby Avenue is undergoing a full reconstruction aimed at enhancing safety, expanding travel options, and fostering stronger community connections.

The redesigned corridor will feature a welcoming and well-lit streetscape, with dedicated bicycle lanes and a shared-use path set apart from vehicle traffic by a landscaped buffer. Enhanced lighting and upgraded pavement will contribute to a safer and more comfortable experience for people walking, biking, using mobility devices, or driving. Connectivity to the existing bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, and by extension the Riverfront Trail, will also be improved. These enhancements will create a continuous and accessible route linking neighborhoods, downtown, retail destinations, and the regional trail system.

Example layout of roadway along Base Rock Street and the north and south ends of Crosby Ave. 

Example layout of Crosby Ave., including landscaping (present along most of the roadway)

Construction Schedule

The project will be advertised for bid in fall 2025, with construction expected to begin in spring 2026. Work is anticipated to take approximately six months.

Travel and Other Impacts

Due to the narrow configuration of Crosby Avenue, a full road closure will be necessary during reconstruction. However, access for local residents and businesses will be maintained. The City will provide weekly updates through its Traffic Alert during the construction period.

Project Benefits

Upgrades to Crosby Avenue will result in a safer, more inviting route for residents, shoppers, and commuters. Improved access between neighborhoods, commercial hubs, and the Riverfront Trail will encourage active transportation and make the corridor more functional and appealing for all users. The project aligns with the City’s broader objectives of strengthening connectivity, linking major destinations, and building corridors that contribute to long-term economic growth and community vitality.

By improving the connection between Main Street and the Rimrock Shopping Center, this project is poised to support commercial activity and catalyze future development. It has been prioritized in several planning efforts, including the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan, the One Grand Junction Comprehensive Plan, and the Grand Junction Circulation Plan. These improvements represent a key step toward creating accessible, attractive infrastructure that enhances health, safety, and quality of life.

History

There has been consistent and enthusiastic community support for the project, including letters of support from the Downtown Development Authority, Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning Office, Chamber of Commerce, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Urban Trails Committee, and nearby neighborhoods.

Several site readiness tasks were completed in spring 2025 in preparation for construction. The City replaced an aging asbestos cement waterline along Crosby Avenue and Base Rock Street with modern PVC piping. It also relocated the existing raised irrigation ditch underground, which previously impeded visibility and took up much of the north shoulder. Additionally, deteriorating sanitary sewer lines under Base Rock Street were rehabilitated using trenchless methods to minimize disruption for nearby businesses.

Funding

The project is being financed through a combination of State and City funds. The Colorado Department of Transportation awarded the project one million dollars through the Revitalizing Main Streets: Safety Infrastructure Grant Program. These funds are being supplemented with two million dollars from the City of Grand Junction, using revenue from its capital improvement sales tax and transportation impact fees. This funding will cover construction costs for the half-mile corridor, representing a strategic, high-impact investment in local infrastructure.