Mesa County Advances $1.25 Million North Avenue Sidewalk Project
Mesa County and Grand Junction move to fund a larger sidewalk and transit corridor along North Avenue with state transit money.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in City Hall
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Mesa County commissioners unanimously approved $1.25 million in Colorado Department of Transportation transit funding on Tuesday, and Grand Junction City Council had approved the same funds on its consent agenda at its Oct. 21 meeting. The money will extend a detached sidewalk on the north side of North Avenue eastward to the I-70 Business Loop.
Why it matters
The funding raises the overall project budget from $5.95 million to $7.2 million and requires no local match, easing the financing burden on the county and city. The added sidewalk and transit-linked improvements are intended to improve connectivity and accessibility along the corridor for Grand Junction residents.
The $1.25 million is state transit funding from CDOT, lifting the total project budget to $7.2 million from $5.95 million with no local match required. Commissioners and council approvals are complete, but the final bid results have not yet been determined.
The players
Mesa County Board of Commissioners
The elected governing body of Mesa County, Colorado, which approved the $1.25 million in transit funding and serves as a financial partner in the North Avenue project.
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
The state agency responsible for Colorado's highways and transportation programs, which allocated the transit funding for the North Avenue project.
Grand Junction City Council
The governing body of Grand Junction, Colorado, which approved the funds on its consent agenda and will manage construction of the sidewalk project.
The details
The city will build 8-foot detached sidewalks with landscaping integrated with transit stops, as part of a broader corridor project that includes sidewalks on both sides of North Avenue from 28½ Road and 29 Road eastward to the I-70 Business Loop. The City of Grand Junction will manage construction while Mesa County serves as a financial partner.
Timeline
Oct. 21: Grand Junction City Council approves the funds on its consent agenda.
Tuesday, week of Nov. 7, 2026: Mesa County commissioners unanimously approve the $1.25 million.
December: Project is expected to go out for bid.
2027: Construction is expected to begin.
Legal Context
The allocation reflects CDOT's transit funding program, which directs state dollars toward local transit-linked infrastructure such as sidewalks and corridor improvements. Mesa County and Grand Junction are using that state framework to advance North Avenue connectivity without drawing on local match dollars.
Residents along North Avenue can expect a wider, landscaped detached sidewalk connecting to transit stops from 29½ Road to the I-70 Business Loop once construction proceeds. The project requires no local match, so it does not add direct cost to local taxpayers based on the funding described.
The takeaway
Mesa County and Grand Junction are leveraging state transit dollars to expand North Avenue infrastructure without local match funding. Watch for the December bid announcement to see how the revised $7.2 million budget translates into actual construction plans.
What happens next
The project is anticipated to go out for bid in December, with construction expected to start in 2027.
Further reading
For more on local government decisions, see City Hall coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
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