Fort Collins to Close Drake and Lemay Intersection for Crosswalk Repairs November 8-9
Fort Collins will close the intersection of East Drake Road and South Lemay Avenue for two days beginning November 8 to repair deteriorating asphalt crosswalks, requiring drivers to use alternate routes through surrounding neighborhoods.
The city will close the intersection from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9, weather permitting. Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians throughout the closure.
The repairs are part of Fort Collins Essential Street Operations, a program that maintains more than 1,100 lane miles of city streets and manages routine pavement maintenance across the transportation network.
Detour Routes Direct Traffic to Adjacent Arterials
Southbound traffic on Lemay Avenue will detour onto East Prospect Road, while northbound drivers will use East Horsetooth Road. Westbound traffic on Drake Road will detour to South Timberline Road, and eastbound vehicles will use South College Avenue.
The city designed detour routes to maintain access to nearby residences and businesses while avoiding excessive traffic through residential neighborhoods, according to Fort Collins transportation planning documents.
Fort Collins schedules intersection closures on weekends to minimize disruption to weekday commuters, school bus routes and business peak hours, according to city transportation maintenance policies.
Asphalt Crosswalks Require Regular Maintenance
Asphalt crosswalks in Northern Colorado typically need significant maintenance every five to eight years due to weather exposure and traffic wear, according to Fort Collins Streets Department program descriptions. Freeze-thaw cycles, intense UV exposure and heavy vehicle traffic accelerate deterioration at major intersections.
The Drake and Lemay intersection handles high vehicle volumes as a priority arterial crossing point. Fort Collins inspects major intersections annually and typically resurfaces crosswalks every five to seven years under intensive use.
The Essential Street Operations program allocated $3.1 million in 2022 to support street maintenance activities including pothole repairs, crack sealing, surface restoration and crosswalk maintenance. The program supports more than 60 Streets Department staff and manages contractor work across the city's transportation network.
Fort Collins prioritizes road maintenance based on infrastructure age and condition, safety concerns, usage levels and community requests, according to city budget documents.
For more information about Essential Street Operations, visit fcgov.com/streets or call the Streets Department at 970-221-6615. A list of all active construction projects is available at fcgov.com/construction.