Road construction barrels along road work in North Fruita Desert Special Recreation Management Area

18 Road Reconstruction, Paving Project

OVERVIEW: BLM and Mesa County are working with the Federal Highway Administration on a project to reconstruct and pave about six miles of 18 Road to improve public safety and access to BLM-administered lands that are popular for mountain biking and OHV recreation activities.

The completed project will provide a 30-foot paved road with two 10-foot lanes for vehicle traffic, and two 5-foot bike lanes.

Federal Highway Administration, funded through the Federal Lands Access Program, is leading the 18 Road Project construction work. Project managers expect to complete the work in late fall of 2025.

To sign up for updates on the project please email MesaCounty18Rdproject@gmail.com or call the project hotline 970-892-1834. BLM will also provide project updates on this web page.

 

 

Project Updates

Construction photo of heavy equipment haul trucks preparing a road base ahead of road paving operations.
Construction crew members operate haul trucks and prepare a road base ahead of paving operations expected to begin on the 18 Road project the week of April 21, 2025. (Courtesy photo)

 

Posted April 18, 2025:

Attention Cyclists: For your safety and the safety of construction personnel, cyclists must obey the same traffic management rules as other vehicles. This includes lane closures and pilot car escorts. Thank you for your patience during this ongoing project to improve access to your public lands.

 

Traffic control continues in a pilot car operation during daylight operations–please drive slowly through the work zone. Temporary traffic signals are installed and operational Monday through Thursday, from about 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through May of 2025. 

 

Today through June 1:

  • Each weekend the project will be open to two-way, free flowing traffic from noon Friday to Monday morning.
  • Crews expect to start paving operations next week. Once that operation starts, there will be an increase in truck traffic for hauling material. Motorists and cyclists may see an increase in wait times as haul trucks and paving equipment move through the work zone.