29 Road Interchange Project Update
The 29 Road interchange is a key component of a larger collaborative project with the City of Grand Junction, a vision that has been in development since the 1980s. Its completion would finalize a loop of transportation corridors designed to reduce traffic congestion, enhance safety, and improve accessibility throughout Mesa County and Grand Junction.
Previous traffic improvement projects that have contributed to this vision include:
- Riverside Parkway
- 24 Road expansion
- 29 Road Bridge over the Colorado River
- 29 Road Bridge over I-70 Business Loop
Following final approvals and an environmental assessment, the 29 Road interchange would connect this loop that has been in progress for decades. The proposed project would:
- Extend 29 Road to I-70
- Construct the interchange at I-70
- Expand the stretch of road between Patterson and I-70 from two to four lanes
- Add pedestrian and bike infrastructure along 29 Road
The project is projected to cost approximately $80 million in total. Of that, $12 million would be used to extend and modify the section of 29 Road north of Patterson to the interstate, and $68 million would be used for the interchange itself.
A Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study conducted between 2018 and 2020 on behalf of Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction determined that an interchange at 29 Road is an ideal way to enhance local and regional connectivity as part of the larger plan to provide greater transportation accessibility in the community.
The proposed interchange location currently does not have any irrigation or building infrastructure, making it ideal for the project. Development of the area would not only improve traffic flow, connectivity, and safety — but also create a stronger, more diverse economy by utilizing the land in a productive way.
For more information about the project, visit the 29 Road Interchange website.
