The repaving project on the mile-long west end of Rio Grande Street in Colorado Springs encountered unexpected delays due to underlying base problems discovered during early construction. Initial plans for routine resurfacing were abandoned after crews found that the existing pavement base had sunk beneath the street, necessitating a complete rebuild rather than a standard overlay.
City operations manager Corey Farkas explained that while ground-penetrating radar helped assess pavement thickness, it could not detect issues with the subgrade beneath. The discovery of what appeared to be groundwater under the street compromised the original foundation. Repairing this required removing the old base material, hauling it away, and installing more suitable materials before laying new asphalt. Alternative, less costly chemical stabilization methods were considered but found unsuitable for the site conditions.
The project’s timeline also suffered due to recent rainfall, which slowed work. Furthermore, fiber optic cable installation on side streets connecting to Rio Grande added complexity to the construction efforts. This thoroughfare serves as a critical link between 8th Street, 21st Street, and Cresta Road, commonly used by local motorists heading to Bear Creek Dog Park and the Gold Hill Mesa neighborhood. City officials anticipate completing the repaving by the end of the month.
Similar reconstruction is scheduled to begin soon on the west end of Costilla Street near 8th Street, where crews will also undertake a full base rebuild instead of simple resurfacing due to comparable subgrade concerns.