Salt Flats: Phase 1 Infrastructure Completion

Have you noticed all the changes happening along 28 Road and 28 ¼ Road lately? The new roads, sidewalks, streetlights, landscaping, utilities, and other infrastructure improvements are all part of the Salt Flats development—and we're excited to share that Phase 1 infrastructure is now in its final stages of completion.

These improvements are laying the foundation for one of Grand Junction's most significant future housing developments. Phase 1 includes the extension and expansion of critical public infrastructure, including Grand Avenue improvements, the 28 ¼ Road expansion, water and sewer utilities, storm drainage, electric, gas, fiber, landscaping, irrigation, and multimodal transportation connections designed to support future residents and businesses.

Many residents have asked how these improvements are being funded. The answer is through a unique partnership between the City of Grand Junction, the State of Colorado, and the property owner. In November 2024, the City was awarded a $2 million More Housing Now grant through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs' Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF). The program was specifically created to help communities address infrastructure barriers that prevent affordable and attainable housing development.

The City contributed an additional $800,000 local match, creating a $2.8 million investment in Salt Flats Phase 1 infrastructure. In addition, the seller contributed another $1 million toward infrastructure improvements, helping accelerate the project's readiness for future development.

Why is this investment so important? Housing doesn't happen without infrastructure. Before homes can be built, communities must first invest in roads, utilities, drainage systems, sidewalks, lighting, and transportation connections. These improvements remove one of the largest financial barriers to future housing development and position Salt Flats to become a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood that will provide much-needed housing opportunities for Grand Junction residents.

The infrastructure work underway today may look like roads, pipes, and streetlights, but it represents something much bigger: the groundwork for future homes, future neighborhoods, and future opportunities for our community.

As construction wraps up on Phase 1, we're excited to see the next chapter of Salt Flats begin.