Spanish Valley pathway nears 2027 opening as design wraps up

Spanish Valley’s long-discussed multi-use pathway has moved into the part locals care about most: the ground-level work that determines whether people can actually walk or bike it safely. Grand County staff told commissioners on April 15 that design is about 90% complete, the bid package is being finalized, and right-of-way acquisition has started along Spanish Valley Drive, the main approach for many trips into the Moab area.

For visitors hauling bikes to trailheads and residents trying to move between neighborhoods, lodging, and daily services without getting on the shoulder of a busy road, the pathway would create a much safer corridor. Grand County Active Transportation and Trails Director Maddie Logowitz said the project is more than a trail segment. In addition to improving active transportation access and safety, it would also add drainage and utility protection benefits along a corridor where road, housing, and recreation decisions are tightly linked.

The updated cost estimate now sits at $3.805 million, down from $4.309 million, but that figure does not include right-of-way acquisition. A $2.7 million Utah Department of Transportation award from 2021 still anchors the project, leaving about a $1.1 million gap for the county to close. County officials discussed whether interest earned in Fund 47, where the state money is held, could help offset some costs, while County Engineer Sean Yeates said additional state support is possible, though no specific source has been identified.

The property work is already underway. County officials said deeds and exhibits have been turned over to the acquisition agent, and four property owners requested boundary surveys before appraisal negotiations move ahead. UDOT will require a county commitment to the remaining funding before the project can advance, which means the 2027 opening target still depends on land issues, utility coordination, and the final funding package coming together.

The pathway has been on the county’s radar for years. Earlier county action approved preconstruction and design in 2022, and a UDOT Recreation Hot Spot briefing described the route as a link between affordable-housing areas in northern Spanish Valley and downtown Moab, with the added goals of reducing commuter traffic on US-191 and improving quality of life for residents and recreational opportunities for visitors. If the county can clear the remaining hurdles in time, officials say bidding could open in mid to late 2026, putting Spanish Valley one step closer to a safer nonmotorized spine through one of Moab’s busiest gateways.