Great News - Local, State and Federal Officials Work Together For U.S. 34 Flood Repairs
Estes Park EDC President and CEO Jon Nicholas recently attended a press conference concerning Congresses approval of disaster relief funding for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to complete the U.S. 34 permanent reconstruction
Speakers at Sylvan Dale Ranch in Loveland included Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) along with Representative Jared Polis, Representative Ken Buck, Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly and Estes Park Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Koenig.
The two Senators and two Congressmen came together to secure $252 million in federal money to ensure reconstruction of highway 34 can be complete in 2019. Earlier in 2016 the Loveland Reporter Herald reported that an (11 year) delay threatened the project as the Colorado Department of Transportation lacked funds to pay for it.
U.S. 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon between Estes Park and Loveland is currently closed to the public for reconstruction through Memorial Day of this year. Big Thompson canyon residents have permits for defined rush hour periods. After Memorial Day, the work will be done in sections and no more full road closures are anticipated or planned.
The Estes Park EDC in cooperation with the Larimer Small Business Development Center (Larimer SBDC) and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) are currently working with Estes Park and Big Thompson Canyon businesses to assist them in applying for Recover Colorado Grants due to the Highway 34 closure.
Given the importance of this project to our region, we wanted to share the comments of our Colorado Senators and Representatives, as well as Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly and Estes Park Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Koenig