Affected trails will remain open 

La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) will begin a culvert repair and replacement project on BLM-managed land in the Ewing Mesa trail system starting the week of July 28, in partnership with Circle Z Construction of Cortez. The project is expected to last approximately two weeks. 

The culverts in this area are located along LPEA’s access points for servicing regional transmission lines. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has identified the existing culverts as severely deteriorated and in need of urgent repair to maintain safe utility access and preserve trail integrity. 

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR TRAIL USERS: 

• No trail closures are planned during the work. Work will take place Monday through Friday during the day. 
• Heavy machinery and construction vehicles will be present on and around the trail system and so caution is advised. 
• Signage will be posted at major intersections to alert trail users of the activity. 

Project Locations: 

• West Site: Junction of Skull Rock and South Rim trails - users may need to briefly detour around the work zone. (See map below) 
• East Site: Along Big Canyon trail (before the intersection with South Rim) - minimal impact on trail traffic expected. (See map below) 

LPEA is coordinating with local partners to ensure the timeline avoids major trail events or races. Updates will be shared with community stakeholders.