Mountain Village Meadows Neighborhood Improvements

Challenge

The Town of Mountain Village Meadows neighborhood is considered the “heart and soul” of the Town, and it’s where a majority of year-round Town residents live. However, many of the roads were designed years ago and, in recent years, found to be lacking in terms of pedestrian safety, access and flow. For example, the neighborhood streets didn’t have bicycle paths or sidewalks in many areas. The Town Council recognized the need for change and partnered with SEH to lead a number of updates and improvements.

Mountain Village is located in Southwest Colorado, in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. The Town’s elevation rises to 9,540 feet, with a current population of approximately 1,400 residents. Although a small town at first glance, Mountain Village is a hotbed for visiting hikers, bicyclists and especially those who enjoy winter sports. The Town neighbors the Town of Telluride, which is also an immensely popular skiing and snowboarding destination.

Mountain Village is committed to protecting and nurturing the quality of life for its year-round residents as well as visitors and vacationers. As such, this project was a high priority for the Town Council and involved stakeholders.

Solution

The SEH team’s role on this project involved master planning, design, preparation of construction documents, bidding and construction administration for the addition of sidewalks as well as curb and gutter along Adams Ranch Road. Throughout the neighborhood, the SEH team also provided the addition of drain pans and subsurface drainage improvements, installation of streetlights, a communications conduit, two raised stamped concrete crosswalks, stormwater management plans, and an ADA-friendly trail access through local wetlands.

Residents often walk their pets and small children throughout the neighborhood. The newly designed, ADA-compliant sidewalks and trail enhancements have created a safe, inviting loop through the neighborhood, including through and around a wetland area that surrounds the Town’s Prospect Creek. In addition, these improvements now safely and efficiently connect pedestrians to Town ski lifts and the Town center from a widely used parking lot.

The project team also provided landscaping in various parts of the neighborhood, including a resident playground and an upcoming recreational ball field with a frisbee throwing area for families and dogs alike.

These project efforts were part of a conceptual/master plan that SEH helped the Town Council prepare in 2014. The newly designed and completed Adams Ranch Road and Meadows neighborhood as a whole have become a safer, pedestrian friendly bright spot for the flourishing Town – welcoming and invigorating recreational use for residents and visitors regardless of season.