The City of Rifle was awarded $450,000.00 from the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District traditional grant program to be used for intersection improvements at Whiteriver Avenue and Centennial Parkway (Old Highway 6). The Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District is an independent public body charged with distributing financial resources it receives from the development of natural resources on federal lands within Garfield County to communities impacted by these activities. This grant agency has provided funding for nearly every major project that the City of Rifle has performed since 2012.
The project will improve turning at the intersection, install ADA compliant sidewalks connecting to downtown and install a signal that will greatly improve the safety for both vehicles and pedestrians. Funding has also been received from the Department of Local Affairs Energy Impact Assistance Fund ($500k) and CDOT Safer Main Streets ($1.8M). This totals $2.75M in total grant funding.
The City also received a $20,000 FMLD mini grant for continued buildout of the Grand Hogback Trail system. The Grand Hogback Trails are a new system of mountain biking trails accessed from the Rifle Arch Hiking Trailhead. Located seven miles north of Rifle on Highway 13 on BLM property, the new area features mountain biking trails which range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. The scenery, trails and terrain provide a unique and exceptional mountain bike experience.
The City of Rifle and its partners have been working on the buildout of the trail system since the original plans were approved by the BLM in 2019. Installation of a permanent pit toilet was completed this winter.
Special thanks goes out to the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District, but also to the community that has worked so hard to earn the Federal Mineral Lease dollars.
The City of Rifle will receive the second round of CDOT comments on April 17, 2023, and is looking to post bids for the intersection improvements in May for a summer and fall construction project. For more project information please go to www.rifleco.org/214/Projects-Under-Design-Construction .
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