4th and 5th Street Improvements Pilot Project
The City of Grand Junction and Downtown Grand Junction have launched a pilot project designed to reduce speeds on 4th and 5th Streets that will increase safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Rendering examples of how each street will be reconfigured are provided and you can provide your input by responding to the short poll, leaving a question or comment. Before asking a question, please review the FAQs to see if information about that topic has already been provided.
What does each corridor look like in the pilot?
Planning done in the 1980s helped to lay the foundation for designs developed for 2024 that are currently being implemented. These were based on how the City has grown and how downtown has evolved for more pedestrians and use by cyclists in addition to motorists driving in for business, shopping, a cold beverage, or a meal.
Blocks between North Ave. and Ute Ave. on 4th and 5th Streets will undergo a transformation for the pilot phase of the project changing traffic flow from two lanes to one. The original study completed in 2022 had contemplated two lanes instead of one. In 2023, at the request of downtown merchants, the City's consultant evaluated a single-lane configuration which confirmed from a traffic volume standpoint, that a single lane on 4th Street and 5th Street would work in the context of the entire downtown street network. This single-lane design accommodated diagonal parking to remain. The graphics below are examples of the pilot design for 4th and 5th streets, allowing adjustments to be made as plastic bollards and paint are currently used.
4th Street (Downtown example)
5th Street (Downtown example)
Notable Changes Include (updated Sept.9):
City Leadership reviewing project plans for 5th Street
- The turning radius at various corners has been modified based on feedback from the original 4th Street design
- Additional diagonal parking will be provided along the west side of 5th Street south of Grand Ave.
- Bike lanes will be added and buffered by parallel parking on both 4th St. and 5th St.
- Angled parking will remain on the left side of both 4th St. and 5th St. in the downtown area
- Reduction to a one-lane, one-way configuration on both 4th St. and 5th St. between North Ave. and Ute Ave
- Belford Ave. is converted to a two-way street between 4th St. and 5th St.
- A westbound bike lane is added to the north side of Belford Ave. and parking is restricted to only the south side between 4th St. and 5th St.
- Travel lanes were adjusted from the original 11 ft. width to 18 ft. creating more room for car doors on either side and providing more room for drivers to navigate around parallel parking vehicles. The Fire Department initially reviewed the designs and since operating emergency vehicles has recommended the increase in travel lane
- Select parking spaces will be restriped to "no parking zone" to increase pedestrian ability to view oncoming traffic, two specifically in concern are along Colorado Ave.
- Three parking spaces near St. Regis will be restored in order to maintain self-waiting areas for riders
Living Streets Mural Project
As a part of the 4th and 5th Street Project, the Living Streets subcommittee, Community Development, and Parks and Recreation Departments are looking for temporary street murals to be painted along these corridors. The Artist submission closed on Friday, August 23.
4th Street North of Main (space will be split into two)
5th Street South of Main
5th Street South of White
