Red Lady Roundabout Project
Why a Roundabout at Sixth and Red Lady?
Sixth Street/CO 135 is the main road into Crested Butte, and it gets extremely busy during peak times, especially at the intersection with Red Lady Avenue, where delays, congestion, and safety concerns are getting worse.
As it currently exists, the intersection works below CDOT standards. Left turns from Red Lady onto Sixth Street/CO 135 can be painfully slow, and sometimes dangerous, pushing cars to cut through side streets, go around to the 4-way stop, or back up traffic at the entrance to Town.
That’s why the Town is planning to build a roundabout at Sixth Street and Red Lady Avenue, which was recommended by the Town’s adopted Transportation Mobility Plan.
Why a Roundabout?
- It improves safety for everyone: drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
- It slows traffic, while keeping it moving smoothly, even during busy times.
- It creates a more welcoming gateway entry into Town.
- It’s a national best practice for intersections like this, recommended by the Federal Highway Administration.
Additionally, when the Town applied for a CDOT access permit as part of the school expansion project, CDOT required a roundabout to be built as part of the expansion project. So, this project is essential for the school as well.
Thanks to the Safe Streets for All Action Plan, we also received a $2.2 million federal grant to help pay for the roundabout, in collaboration with Gunnison County and the Safe Streets for All planning team.
- What's the Process and How to Get Involved?
The roundabout design and planning process is just getting started. We want your input along the way!
Here’s what the schedule looks like:
Summer 2025
- Project kickoff and early design work begins.
- Town Council will review and select a preferred concept.
Fall 2025
- We’ll share the concept with CDOT to kick off official design.
- Stakeholder meetings to discuss the concept.
- Public open house to review the draft design (30% complete). We’ll ask for your feedback on features like landscaping, art, and signage in the roundabout’s center.
- Save the date for Tuesday, September 16 from 5-7pm in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall.
Late 2025 to Early 2026
- Design will be refined based on community and CDOT input.
- We’ll complete 60% design, start environmental review, and prepare for construction.
Construction is expected to break ground by the end of 2026.
- Current Concept
We are currently proposing a peanut-shaped single-lane roundabout design for the Red Lady Roundabout (see concept drawing below). This concept is favored by the Town of Crested Butte and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The design includes an egg-shaped bump-out on the east side of the circulating lane. This single-lane roundabout aims to enhance the flow vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists at this intersection.
Design Overview
The peanut design allows for the proper alignment of the two intersections and prioritizes speed control as you enter and exit the Town. A right turn bypass will be incorporated to provide additional storage for access to Crested Butte Community School. The geometry of the roundabout will preserve the existing green spaces and minimize right-of-way impacts. Additionally, this concept will include pedestrian facilities to ensure safe pedestrian crossings.
What does concept mean at this stage as we go into planning?
At this stage, the design concept serves as the initial idea and foundation for further development. It visualizes the potential impacts of the Red Lady Roundabout project on the surrounding area. We are proposing a peanut-shaped design alternative (illustrated below), which will evolve and be refined through the design process with feedback from stakeholders. Before advancing to the full design phase with 3-D modeling and refined geometry, we seek the town's approval on the overall look and feel of the roundabout.
- Red Lady Roundabout FAQs