Jim Davis, County
Engineer
1060 Main Ave. Suite 104
Durango, CO 81301
Phone 970-382-6372
Fax: 970-375-7986
Email: davisja@co.laplata.co.us
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Engineering Department is charged with providing the citizens of La Plata County with a transportation system that meets the increasing demands associated with:
- population growth
- improving public safety
- supporting the economic vitality of our community
The County maintains partnerships with the local municipalities and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), addressing interagency connectivity and the development of a long-range, comprehensive transportation plan to direct both the short-term and long-term transportation planning decisions.
The Engineering Department conducts:
- surveys
- designs
- administers contracts for road and bridge construction projects
- inspects work to ensure quality and compliance with the project plans and specifications.
The major projects for 2008 included:
- Phase I of the reconstruction of County Road 213 from just north of Basin Creek south a distance of one mile. The County Road 213 reconstruction was funded in part by an energy impact grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The County Road 213 reconstruction projected involved drainage improvements, alignment and grade changes along with the complete reconstruction of the road base and construction of a retaining wall.
- Phase II, scheduled for 2009, will include a five-inch thick asphalt surface, a concrete barrier wall on the west side of the road, and a guard rail on the east side of the road.
- The reconstruction of two and one-half miles of County Road 322 (La Boca Road) funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- The replacement of the Bear Creek Bridge on County Road 501. This project was funded in part by a gaming grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The Bear Creek Bridge replacement on County Road 501 represents the last of three load-restricted bridges that have been replaced since 2002. Work to be completed on the Bear Creek Bridge this year includes minor grading, re-vegetation of all disturbed areas, and the installation of bridge rails.
- Another major project managed by the engineering department and completed in 2008 was the solar power 800 MHz communication tower on Grassy Mountain. This communication tower provides greatly enhanced emergency communication through out the County and especially in the north end of the County by Vallecito Reservoir. The new tower will also be shared by the Upper Pine Fire Control District and the US Forest Service, Columbine Ranger District. This project was also funded in part by an energy impact grant from DOLA.
- Guardrail maintenance and new installation resulted in approximately 1,500 feet being installed or replaced at a cost of $80,000.
- The Engineering Department is also charged with issuing permits for work in the County right-of-way as well as permits for over-weight and over-size trucks.
- In 2008, Engineering issued approximately 640 permits for new driveways, utility work within the right-of-way, and permits for over-size and over-weight vehicles on county roads.
During 2008, a number of projects were in various stages of planning and design:
- The plans for the County Road 233 extension to County Road 234 were completed and the County started on the right-of-way acquisition process, scheduled to continue and hopefully be completed in 2009.
- The construction plans for the County Road 501 grade separated bike and pedestrian path from just north of Bayfield Center Drive to the south side of Dove Ranch were substantially complete by the end of 2008 and construction is scheduled for 2009.
- Construction plans for the load-restricted County Road 527 Beaver Creek Bridge and the third bridge west of US 160 on County Road 141 were also substantially complete by the end 2008 and both projects are scheduled for construction in 2009.
- Construction was started by Weemuniche Construction Authority on the long awaited new road alignment for County Road 211, which is being displaced by Lake Nighthorse. Construction completion for the three and one-half miles of new road is currently anticipated in the fall of 2010.