STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO–January 31, 2023-The 110th Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival rides into the Yampa Valley between February 8-12 and the city is unveiling a new detour plan during the street events to better serve US40 thru-traffic, enhance emergency access, and improve traffic circulation over the festive weekend.
“As we know, change doesn’t come easy for Steamboat Springs, but we believe this plan better serves US40 thru-traffic, improves emergency routes and will be more efficient for the community,” commented City Manager Gary Suiter.
Instead of utilizing Oak Street solely, the new route will use a circular configuration that sees US40 eastbound traffic diverted onto Yampa Street and US40 westbound traffic onto Oak Street. The city has hired a traffic control company out of Grand Junction to assist in running the detour including signage, barriers, and flaggers at some key intersections.
“The new route allows for emergency vehicles to travel unobstructive across town and for large semi-trucks to more easily navigate the detour turns at 5th and 11th Streets,” said Steamboat Springs Police Dept (SSPD) Chief Mark Beckett.
Starting early Saturday morning, westbound traffic will turn right on 5th St, then left onto Oak St before continuing down to 11th St and US40. In addition, for easier semi-truck travel, there will be no parking on the north side of Oak St between 5th to 6th Streets, 10th to 11th Streets and west side of 11th to the alley.
Eastbound traffic will turn right at 11th St, then left onto Yampa St. Traffic will travel the six-blocks down Yampa to 5th St before returning to Lincoln. No parking is available on the south side of Yampa between 10th to 11th as well as the west side of 11th between the alley and Yampa.
Individuals looking to access neighborhoods north of downtown should utilize 3rd, 4th, and 12th Streets. Residential side streets approaching Oak between 5th and 11th will not be permitted to turn left on Oak but will need to follow the circular route. The city is asking lodging shuttles to use the bank parking lot at 3rd & Oak for drop off and pick up during the street events closure. Public parking at the high school is also an option.
The 5th Street Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic during the street events similar to the night show. All traffic accessing Howelsen Hill, the Ice Arena or Brooklyn neighborhood should use River Road both days.
The new detour plan goes into effect starting Saturday, Feb 11 at 2am and runs through the conclusion of the street events. The following morning, Sunday, Feb 12, the closure/detour begins at 4am and runs through approximately 2pm. Traffic flaggers will be at 5th Street starting at 6am both days. At the conclusion of the street events, crews will plow the snow to the parking lanes and reopen Lincoln Ave.
During the closure, temporary bus stops for westbound Steamboat Springs Transit (SST) routes will be on Oak at 5th, 7th, & 9th. Eastbound SST routes will use the same cross streets but with temporary stops on Yampa St. Buses will return to normal operations when Lincoln Avenue reopens.
In addition, the city will provide free skiing at Howelsen Hill, enact closures to trails on Emerald Mountain, provide additional SST event service and a specific night extravaganza show traffic plan.
SKI FREE at Howelsen Hill – February 8-12, 2023
The ski area will be open normal operating hours during Winter Carnival. Your Winter Carnival button/buff provides access to a free lift ticket to ski at Howelsen Hill during Winter Carnival from February 8-12. Lift ticket must be obtained from the Ticket Office prior to accessing the slopes. One ticket per button/buff per day.
Emerald Mountain – February 11, 2023
All trails that access Emerald Mountain including Blackmer Trail will be closed for public safety from 4pm until 9pm on Saturday, Feb. 11, as crews set up and launch fireworks for the Night Extravaganza. Please respect all closures and understand that additional trail closures may be required prior to Saturday, Feb. 11.
SST Service – February 11 & 12, 2023
SST will operate additional service during the street events and Night Extravaganza on Saturday, February 11 and during the day on Sunday, February 12. Extra unscheduled buses will run on Saturday as well as that night to transport people to and from the evening festivities.
Howelsen Hill Traffic & Parking – Night Extravaganza, February 11
Howelsen Hill base area parking typically fills to capacity early for the Night Extravaganza and overflow parking will be available at the rodeo grounds/ice arena as space permits. ADA parking is limited at the Howelsen Lodge and some ADA spaces will be set up at the tennis courts. Parking is not permitted along Howelsen Parkway or River Road and illegally parked vehicles will be towed.
Once the Howelsen parking lots are full, Howelsen Parkway will be CLOSED to incoming traffic except for ADA access and emergency vehicles. At that time, traffic may be diverted into the Rodeo Arena featuring a drop-off area as well as additional parking. Vehicles will exit the rodeo grounds via the Ice Arena. All traffic crossing the 5th Street Bridge toward Howelsen Hill will be required to take River Road instead of returning to downtown.
After the fireworks, all vehicles departing Howelsen Hill will be directed down River Road to where it intersects with Mt. Werner Road. The 5th Street Bridge will have intermittent closures and Howelsen Parkway will be closed westbound between the Ice Arena and the 5th Street Bridge. There will be no left turns permitted out of the Howelsen Ice Arena parking lot. Motorists are asked to follow traffic directions and signals, yield to city buses and refrain from blocking intersections.
Due to the high volume of spectators, please be patient, alert and follow police and traffic control for directions. Designated routes, which may not be your preferred way home, will be used to aid in maintaining egress from the venue during this popular event.
Additional parking is available throughout the downtown area during the night show, at the Steamboat Springs High School and the Stockbridge Transit Center. Please respect residential access and do not block driveways. It is highly recommended that people walk, take the free SST bus, or utilize drop off/pick up locations at the west end of Yampa and Oak Streets to access the venue.
“The city would like to thank everyone in advance for their cooperation as the new detour plan is implemented,” continued Suiter. “On behalf of everyone at the city, we wish you a safe and wonderful winter carnival celebration.”
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Contact
Mark Beckett, Police Chief, 970.879.4344 or email
David Van Winkle, Streets Superintendent, 970.879.1807 or email
Jonathan Flint, Transit Manager, 970.879.3717 or email
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970.871.8220 or email