New roundabout opens at Weld County Roads 54 and 13 north of Johnstown

A new roundabout at the intersection of Weld County Road 54 and Weld County Road 13 north of Johnstown opened to traffic last week, a few days ahead of the project deadline, Weld County said.

More than 10,000 vehicles use the intersection daily, according to the Weld County Department of Public Works. The county said a roundabout was identified as the best traffic enhancement to address the risk of broadside crashes there.

The roundabout has wide lanes designed to accommodate regular traffic and large agricultural equipment. Its driving surface is concrete, which the county said can help it achieve a 30-year lifespan before major repairs may be needed.

The roundabout was a $14.9 million construction project. Kraemer North America LLC built it, and the Weld County Department of Public Works managed the project.

In 2023, Weld County entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and received a grant of more than $1.7 million. More than $1.4 million of the grant came from CDOT, with Weld County and Larimer County contributing the remaining amount.

Attention will now turn to improvements on WCR 54 between WCR 13 and Colorado Highway 257, a project anticipated to begin next year. People can learn more about the project and sign up for a project newsletter at www.weld.gov/go/WCR54.

"We look at roundabouts as a way to safely and efficiently move traffic," said Scott James, Weld County Commissioner Chair. "This intersection is heavily used, and we're excited to see how it improves traffic flow in the future."

The design is similar to county roundabouts at WCR 54 and WCR 17, completed in 2020, and at WCR 6 and WCR 13, completed in 2025.