Historical Timeline

Early 1900's - Colorado Midland Railroad
alignment is abandoned. This property
becomes the future location of SH 82.

1911 - The Colorado Highway Commission approved the addition of SH 82 to the state highway system.

1937 - Four miles of SH 82 were paved between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. The remainder of the highway to Aspen is oiled in 1938.

1962 - Construction begins to widen SH 82 to four lanes between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. It is completed in 1974.

1983-1988 - Several safety improvement projects
are identified and put in place along SH 82.

1988 - The two-lane Basalt Bypass is completed.

1991 - Five miles of SH 82, down-valley from Aspen toward Brush Creek, are resurfaced. The project included such safety improvements as the application of a special skid-resistant surface treatment to the highway near Shale Bluffs in areas that are shaded from the winter sun.

1992-1994 - Three projects begin to widen SH 82 to four lanes from Carbondale to Basalt. One project adds two lanes to the Basalt Bypass.

1995 - SH 82 is four lanes from Glenwood Springs to just past Basalt, about 25 miles. A new bridge replaces the old "Green Monster" truss bridge (circa 1930) near Wingo Junction.

1996-2000 - Various projects begin and are completed to widen SH 82 between Basalt and Aspen: between Aspen Village and Brush Creek Road, 1996-1998; Shale Bluffs (between Brush Creek Road and Aspen Airport Business Center), 1997-2000; between Gerbazdale and Aspen Village and the Holland Hills project (between Basalt and Wingo Bridge), 1998-1999; and Snowmass Creek East & West, 1999-2000.

2000 - Two projects begin that will complete the widening of SH 82 between Glenwood Springs and Aspen: Aspen Airport Business Center to Buttermilk began in the summer of 2000 and was completed in the fall of 2001, and Snowmass Canyon began in the fall of 2000, and was completed in the fall of 2004.