This Week: 4 - MAYOR BEN 5-7 - ARTS 8-9 - GOVERNMENT 12-13 - SPORTS 16 - YOUTHENTITY Your nonprofit
community newspaper
Slowin’ ‘your roll’ in Redstone
Volume 18, Number 10 | April 16-22, 2026
Bridge construction triggers traffic concerns on Boulevard ELIZABETH KEY Special to The Sopris Sun
EDITOR’S NOTE: Elizabeth Key is a resident of Redstone.
W
Brothers Hukson and Wylie ask motorists to take their time down the Boulevard. Photo courtesy of Sarah Uhl
ith summer coming, the Redstone community is preparing for some likely troublesome traffic, since the north-south thoroughfare has been converted into a dead end due to the reconstruction of the South Bridge — the main entrance into the village. Residents on the north end of the Boulevard, long accustomed to a cul-de-sac esque lifestyle, are now experiencing some anxiety over higher traffic volume and speeding. Redstone is a rural community of about 93 residents in unincorporated Pitkin County, roughly 20 miles south of Carbondale. It sits at an elevation of 7,200 feet along the Crystal River near the base of Mt. Sopris. There is a small collection of businesses, including a general store, antique shops and a couple of restaurants, but it lacks a municipal government, post office, gas station and a modern grocery store. With the closure, visitor traffic must pass through the residential area on the Boulevard twice, whereas before visitors would primarily use the South Bridge to get to the commercial core, near the Redstone Inn, and leave the same way. In winter, Redstone functions largely as a bedroom community, while in the summer it draws visitors to its nationally-designated Historic District, known for its 1902 Victorian-influenced architecture and Swiss chalet style. On the Fourth of July, tourists flock to Redstone for a parade and fireworks, often picnicking and enjoying ice cream in the nostalgic, small-town setting. Sarah Uhl, mother of Hukson, 6, Wylie, 4, and a baby due in May, said she has already noticed an increase in traffic, and cars exceeding the 15 mph speed limit. “The day they closed the bridge, you could just feel the difference in speeding and the volume, and it’s not even tourist season yet,” she said. “People go over a speed bump [and] are already right back up to like 25 miles per hour.” Despite recent concerns, the Boulevard continues to serve as an informal community gathering place where residents congregate outside their small historic homes. Without sidewalks, residents teach their children to ride bikes, walk dogs and socialize along the Boulevard. Uhl emphasized the importance of preserving its community character. “It’s important for people to understand that this is truly a village where people live and children are at play in a way that is perhaps more free and unrestricted than most places,” she said. Uhl suggested that visitors could be asked to park at Elk Park, between the Crystal River and Highway 133, and walk over the footbridge into town. As the impacts ripple through the neighborhood, work on the new bridge continues to progress. The bridge is slated for completion in September, though the proposal included an early completion possibility. Project Manager Charles McManus, continued on page 14