Weld County Road 22 now open following improvements
Published on October 17, 2024
Last Thursday’s opening of Weld County Road (WCR) 22 between U.S. 85 and WCR 31 marked more than just the completion of a road project. It signified the final step in improving all of WCR 22, from U.S. 85 to WCR 49, a major haul route located northeast of Fort Lupton.
“Projects like these show the emphasis we place on transportation planning and on continually working to better our transportation infrastructure so it can best serve the traveling public,” said Kevin Ross, Weld County Commissioner Chair. “This road is an important connection between Highway 85 and county road 49, and we’re pleased that with this final stretch, county road 22 has been improved.”
After a project was completed several years ago on WCR 22 between WCR 41 and 49, a rebuild of WCR 22 between WCR 31 and WCR 41 occurred in 2022. In May of this year, work began on the road between U.S. 85 and WCR 31. Over the course of three months, the Weld County Department of Public Works strengthened the road’s structure and improved its safety and durability by removing existing asphalt and creating an entirely new driving surface. Several culverts were replaced, and work was also done to improve Bridge 22/27A, with a majority of the work focused on its driving surface and creating a smoother ride across the bridge.
Like much of WCR 22, the portion between U.S. 85 and WCR 31 sees heavy use, with an estimated 1,807 vehicles traveling on it daily, according to public works. With the use of WCR 22 likely to increase in the future as the county grows, Weld County Public Works Director Curtis Hall believes the road is ready to meet the challenge.
“I’m pleased that our team was able to get this project finished well ahead of the October 31st deadline, but even more in our commitment to rebuild county road 22 from county road 49 to Highway 85,” Hall said. “These improvements will pay off even more as demand increases.”