Final Design Plans Now Available
The Downtown Plan, input received at public meetings, and comments received through October 2022 were all considered by the Cleave Street Improvements project team throughout the design development and revision process. All are now invited to review the 100% design plans provided in the links below. Public comment on the design may be emailed to engineering@estes.org.
Cleave Street Construction Documents - 100%
For a summary of the project's past activities, please see the Project History Updates tab on this webpage.
Construction for the Cleave Street Improvements project is planned to begin in fall 2023. This project is funded with Street Improvement Funds from the one percent sales tax approved by voters under the 2014 Ballot Issue 1A. Please check this webpage for regular updates.
About the Project
Adopted in 2018, the Estes Park Downtown Plan identified Cleave Street as a prime location for redevelopment. Cleave Street is located in the heart of historic downtown and parallels Elkhorn Avenue. It is a mixed-use area that includes front and back business entrances.
Cleave Street provides access to several residences including affordable housing units managed by the Estes Park Housing Authority. Fall River runs through a park adjacent to this street; and there is on- and off-street parking. Lack of continuous sidewalks makes Cleave Street unsafe for pedestrians. The narrow width of the street and its substantial slope create drainage problems and unfriendly facilities for cyclists and persons with disabilities. Utilities including power, water and sewer are located in this area and are in desperate need of upgrades and relocation.
The Cleave Street improvements are centered around realistic solutions that work for a variety of travel modes and offer an improved on-street experience. Cleave Street is utilized by a mixture of business deliveries, residents, bicyclists, and pedestrians parking and walking into downtown. Three main goals of the project are to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity, improve intersection crossings, and upgrade ADA compliant accessibility. Improvements may include increased roadway definition, which can help reduce speed; delineation for delivery driver and loading areas; marking for residential parking; and increased signage along the street.
Storm water from Cleave Street drains into the Fall River. Another main goal of the project is to identify and enhance stormwater and drainage management and capacity in the area. The project may include green street design elements and non-traditional stormwater techniques such as bioretention, rain gardens, infiltration, grass swales or buffers, and proprietary devices to treat stormwater. The project may also include material recycling during construction.
- Project Updates History
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April 2023
All are now invited to review the 90% design plans provided in the links below.
Cleave Street Construction Documents - 90%
Cleave Street Cost Estimate - 90%
January 2023
The Downtown Plan, input received at public meetings, and comments received through October 2022 have all been considered by the Cleave Street Improvements project team throughout the design development and revision process. All are now invited to review the 60% design plans provided in the links below.
Cleave Street Construction Documents - 60%
Cleave Street Cost Estimate - 60%
Cleave Street - Big Horn Drive NWC Curb Extension
November 2022
Community members were encouraged to learn about the Cleave Street Improvements project and provide input on the preferred design concept at a public meeting held Thursday, Oct. 20, at Town Hall. The Downtown Plan, input received at the public meeting held on Aug. 25, and the results of the August public survey were all considered in the development of the preferred design concept. Public comments on this design were invited through Oct. 27 and considered by the project team during the revision process.
View the revised design concept - Oct. 27, 2022
View the preferred design concept - Sep. 21, 2022
Download the preliminary parking mitigation options
October 2022
Community members were encouraged to learn about the Cleave Street Improvements project and provide input on the preferred design concept at a public meeting held on Thursday, Oct. 20, at Town Hall. A project overview was presented by Kimley-Horn, the Town’s engineering consultant. Residents, business owners, property owners, and others interested in this project were encouraged to attend, and Public Works staff were available to discuss the project. Download the meeting flyer.
The Downtown Plan, input received at the public meeting held on August 25, and the results of the August public survey were all considered in the development of the preferred design concept that was presented at the meeting. Comments on this preferred design concept were invited through Oct. 27.
Town staff also presented a plan to lessen the impacts of the loss of parking along the corridor; download the preliminary parking mitigation options.
August 2022
A public meeting featuring conceptual design options was held on Thursday, Aug. 25, at Town Hall. A project overview was presented by staff from Kimley-Horn, the engineering consultant. Residents, business owners, property owners, and others interested in this project were encouraged to attend. An online survey was also made available Aug. 17-29 to gather public comments on the designs. View the survey results:
Cleave Street Improvements - Survey Response Summary, September 2022
Cleave Street Improvements - Full Survey Responses with Design Options, September 2022
After Aug. 19, Town Engineering Staff and the design team reviewed the survey and public meeting comments and began developing a design that best addresses the concerns raised and feedback received. This design will be brought forward for comment at a public meeting to be scheduled in mid-October.
July 2021
This project is on hold pending completion of the Town's Comprehensive Plan. This plan may revise the vision for the future of downtown Estes Park, including Cleave Street.
May 2020
This project is on hold due to budget modifications from COVID-19. The status of this project will be reevaluated as the budget year progresses.
Winter-Spring 2020
Community engagement planning.
January 2020
Consultant selected; design work begins.
December 2019
Proposals due.
November 2019
Request for Proposal released.
Kimley-Horn engineering services was selected as the design team to work with the community and Town to figure out Cleave Street’s future in the short and long term. They will be conducting public outreach meetings, presenting concepts, and designing plans for construction. Interim improvements focused mostly on street and drainage, and addressed some pedestrian areas. Long-term improvements will include stormwater issues, sidewalks, and utilities.
Have questions or comments about the Cleave Street Improvements project? Please contact the Public Works Department at 970-577-3587 or email publicworks@estes.org.