By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
For decades, Mesa County folks have been dreaming of a common sense road fix to link 29 Road straight to Interstate 70. That connection is almost a reality.
The Mesa County Board of County Commissioners gave the green light to a ballot measure, inching the area closer to smoother drives and less gridlock.
As traffic congestion worsens, proponents argue for the interchange. They say it is vital for regional connectivity and to manage future traffic. The population is set to grow by 20-25% in 20 years, and acting now will prevent traffic jams.
Grand Junction City Councilman Cody Kennedy and Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis have been leaders in pushing for the project. At a recent Mesa County Republican Women’s luncheon, both stressed the long-term benefits. They said that waiting will only increase costs down the road.
“Over the next 20 years, we’re expected to grow 20-25%. So, you can expect that our traffic problems are going to increase,” Kennedy said.
A key point of the project is that the measure allows the county to issue bonds without raising taxes. And that the funding will come from the county’s existing sales tax revenues.
With the preliminary plan, Kennedy stressed there’s some contingency for funding included. This allows for changes as costs shift due to inflation, new expenses or project developments.
“There’s about 40% room to be flexible with the funding for the 29 Road project. That means we can make adjustments to better reflect what the community needs and what’s safest for everyone,” Kennedysaid, also adding that, once CDOT approves a plan, they can apply for grants. The likelihood of obtaining grant funding will mitigate costs.
The interchange would relieve pressure on local roads and subdivisions, Davis said.
“With this new interchange, we see a lot of traffic move to major thoroughfares. Local roads and subdivisions improve as more of the traffic is directed to major roads like 29th Road, Patterson, and the interstate — where we want more of our traffic,” he said.
Davis stresses the importance of moving forward with the project to prevent more costly delays.
“For me, this is a balance of risk versus reward. And there’s a lot of benefits to the 29 Road interchange. Our modeling is based on 2045, and overall system-wide we see a thousand hours less congestion on the entire system.”
“We are in an iterative process with CDOT. We don’t have their approval yet, but we will because we are modifying the design,” Davis said. “Our opponents have taken that very first concept and say incidents go up, but they’re not looking at the local road impact. We can continue on with design and make that better.”
But not all officials are in favor. Grand Junction City Councilman Dennis Simpson has raised his concerns.
He questioned whether CDOT would approve the project: “CDOT is concerned about safety. The projection for this design is it will have 2.4 deaths and injuries per year from people trying to merge into a truck or something like that.”
Simpson also claims the project benefits local developers, not urgent transportation needs.
“This isn’t just a transportation project — it’s an economic development project, benefiting developers who have been acquiring land on the north side of the interchange,” he said. “We need to ask ourselves who really benefits from this.”
Grand Junction City Councilman Scott Beilfuss worries about the project’s cost to taxpayers.
“Now, there’s no tax increase, but believe me, $5 million a year is going to come from somewhere, right?”
In response to opponents, Kennedy and Davis assert that the initial plan is a starting point. It can be amended to meet CDOT requirements and gain approval. They are confident the funding and grants will help keep their promise: no tax hikes.
Despite the criticism, Kennedy and Davis remain optimistic. They believe the 29 Road interchange is vital for the region’s future. Both argue that delaying the project would mean lost chances for federal funding and higher costs in the long run.
They cite more benefits: multimodal infrastructure, including bike lanes and sidewalks. It aims to create a safer, more efficient transportation network for all residents.
Davis noted that, if the project gets bonding approval this fall, construction could start in 2026. They project it will finish in 2027 or 2028.
The project will relieve congestion, improve access and support growth. It has a 40% funding flexibility, a chance for grants, no tax increase and teamwork between city and county.
As voters prepare to decide, visit the Finish the Loop 29 website. It covers benefits, timelines, goals and FAQs.