New street lighting planned for 32 1/2 Road corridor

Mesa County Commissioners approved an agreement on March 10 with Xcel Energy to install new street lighting along the 32 1/2 Road corridor as part of ongoing roadway improvements in the area.

The $182,459.75 agreement covers the installation of lighting between Front Street on the north end of the corridor and the Grand Valley Mainline Canal to the south. The project connects previous improvements on First Street with the compact roundabout recently constructed at 32 1/2 Road and E Road.

Lighting was one of the most common requests from residents during planning for the corridor improvements. The additional lighting is intended to improve visibility for drivers, enhance safety for pedestrians and increase security for nearby homes.

Mesa County does not own or maintain street lighting. Instead, lights are installed, owned and maintained by Xcel Energy, and the county pays a monthly service rate per light approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

Under the agreement, Xcel Energy will install the lighting infrastructure and operate the lights once the system is complete.

Project plans include multiple new steel light poles and fixtures installed along the corridor and near the roundabout to improve nighttime visibility.

The lighting work is one component of the broader 32 1/2 Road improvement project designed to improve safety, connectivity and traffic flow along this growing corridor.