Intersection improvements coming east of Highway 85

Published on November 09, 2022

Several improvements designed to increase safety and efficiency at the intersection of Weld County Road (WCR) 66 and WCR 41 are scheduled to begin later this month. At the end of October, the Weld County Board of Commissioners awarded the contract for the project’s construction to IHC Scott for an amount not to exceed $12,821,742.91.

Improvements planned for the intersection, located north of Greeley and east of Highway 85, include constructing left turn lanes on all four legs of the intersection, correcting sight distance issues, concrete and asphalt paving at the intersection and the installation of new signage. Steps will also be taken to make the intersection more resistant to flooding as crews will also construct a new concrete box culvert for Eaton Draw. Improvements will also be made to roadside drainage and irrigation ditches.

IHC Scott has a long history with Weld County, constructing award-winning projects like WCR 49 and the roundabout at WCR 54 and WCR 17. Most recently, it completed the roundabout at 35th Ave. and O St. which opened on Sept. 30 of this year. Over the past 2.5 years, the Weld County Department of Public Works worked with an outside engineering firm, Horrocks Engineers, to design the WCR 66 and WCR 41 intersection improvements. Additionally, Public Works will be responsible for overseeing the inspection and construction of the project to ensure it’s completed on time, on budget and according to county construction specifications.

To help with the cost of improvements, Weld County entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) in July. Under the agreement DOLA awarded the county a $700,000 Energy and Mineral Impact Grant to be used toward the intersection project.

“We’re always looking for ways to make our roadways safer and more efficient to ensure they meet the needs of travelers now and in the future,” said Weld County Commissioner Scott James. “We’re glad to have DOLA’s support on this project, which will help us deliver the best improvement possible to those who use this intersection.”  

The project is scheduled to begin later this month and be complete by July 31, 2023. When an exact start date is known, it will be announced, along with related closures, on the county’s Facebook and Twitter platforms.

Learn more about the Weld County Department of Public Works.