Current Public Works Projects
Help Shape The Future of the Visitor Center Parking Lot
The Town of Estes Park is planning for a future reconfiguration of the Visitor Center Parking Lot. This is one of the busiest parking
lots in Estes Park, accommodating not only vehicles, but charging stations, seasonal events, and significant pedestrian traffic for the Visitor Center, downtown, and nearby attractions. It is also the primary hub for area transit services and their customers, including The Peak free seasonal transit system. Redesign and construction of this parking lot is necessary to safely accommodate all of these uses, while improving its function and efficiency. The timing of construction has not been determined yet.
Please take a few minutes to tell us about your experiences with this space. Your feedback will help the design team plan for the future construction. There are two design options that each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Community input is essential to ensure it reflects the needs and priorities of those who live, work, and play in Estes Park.
The survey is now live at surveymonkey.com/r/Z79RY6B The survey takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete and will remain open through Monday, Oct. 27.
Community feedback received through the survey will be discussed by the Town Board before a preferred layout is selected and refined. The completed design is expected in early 2026. The construction timeline has not yet been established.
For more information on the Visitor Center parking lot redesign project, please contact Town Engineer Trevor Wittwer at twittwer@estes.org or 970-577-3724.
Project-Related Street Closures
Construction projects featured on this webpage are either managed or monitored by the Town's Public Works Department. Below is a Street Closure Report prepared as a courtesy for the residents and visitors currently navigating the construction zones in Estes Park, effective August 15:
Under Construction
(Closed to Thru Traffic Unless Otherwise Noted)
Carriage Drive
Lakeshore Drive to Highway 7 (Starting 8/18)
Detour: Highway 7, Scott Avenue, Fish Creek Road, Whispering Pines Drive
Closed during construction 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pawnee Drive
Highway 7 to 33 feet west (Starting 8/18)
Detour: Highway 7, Arapaho Road, Cherokee Drive
Closed during construction 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Temporary Road/Lane Closures
None at this time.
Resource links for specific projects impacting traffic in Estes Park:
Visitor Center Parking Lot
In September 2020, Public Works received notification of a $1,029,504 grant award through the SB 267 program to redesign the Visitor Center parking lot. CDOT indicated that this project had been selected due to the lot’s proximity to US 34, US 36, Hwy 7, and the Town’s parking structure, which means the lot naturally serves as a transit hub for the Town, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Bustang.
The proposed improvements for this project include a newly designed layout for the Visitor Center parking lot, which would identify preferred locations for vehicle parking and bus layover; bus loading/unloading zones (for the Town’s free shuttles, Rocky Mountain National Park Hiker Shuttle and Bustang to Estes); shuttle stops; ride-share drop-off/pick-up locations; pedestrian circulation; electric vehicle infrastructure; bicycle circulation and parking; and visitor-serving amenities including landscaping, placemaking features, lighting, wayfinding, and informational signage.
Downtown Wayfinding Signage Program
In 2018, the Downtown Plan (DP) adopted by the Town included recommendations for improving wayfinding signage. The first task was to prepare and implement the Parking Pilot Project, which was completed with the placement of new signs in the Downtown parking lots. The placement of wayfinding signage throughout Downtown will take place in four phases; the first phase was completed in August 2023. For information and updates, visit the Downtown Wayfinding Signage Program project page.
Fall River Trail Extension
An existing trail along Fall River Road is being expanded to connect historic downtown Estes Park to the Fall River Entrance Station of the fifth most-visited national park in our country, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). At the project's inception, the RMNP boundary was 2.5 miles from where the existing trail ended near Sleepy Hollow Court on US 34 (Fall River Road). For information and updates, visit the Fall River Trail Extension project page.
Reclamation Neighborhood Street Improvements
Streets in the Reclamation Neighborhood generally have limited right of way widths, substandard sidewalks, and narrow driving surfaces (flowline to flowline) that are shared between travel lanes and on-street parking. With limited right of way widths preventing the construction of a traditional roadway cross section, the Town prepared several design alternatives in November 2023 for public consideration. For complete information and updates, visit the Reclamation Neighborhood Street Improvements project page.
Street Improvement Program (STIP)
Recently Completed Public Works Projects
- Cleave Street Improvements: Construction was completed in August 2025. For a history of this project, visit the Cleave Street Improvements project page.
- Graves Avenue - Safe Routes to School: Construction was completed in August 2024. For a history of this project, visit the Graves Avenue-Safe Routes to School project page.
- US 36 & Community Drive Roundabout: Construction was completed in early 2024. For a history of this project, visit the US 36 and Community Drive Roundabout project page.
- Downtown Estes Loop: Construction was completed in fall 2024.
Questions
Questions about the information on this page may be directed to the Public Works Department at 970-577-3587 or publicworks@estes.org.