Laurine Lassalle

Traffic from Castle Creek Road encounters the afternoon downvalley congestion at the roundabout. A coalition established earlier this year to study ways to reduce congestion is exploring both incentives and

A train on the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks, near Slaughterhouse Falls with Aspen Mountain in the background, is shown in this 1968 photo.

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority will consider new ways to use its railroad corridor, which extends from Glenwood Springs to Woody Creek and includes the popular Rio Grande Trail, to alleviate traffic on Highway 82 and respond to the valley's transportation needs.

The Transportation Coalition for the 21st Century has narrowed down its potential recommendations for relieving traffic congestion in the Roaring Fork Valley to two scenarios: congestion pricing or a hybrid plan that would start with a high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane and work toward congestion pricing. Both scenarios include carpooling and public-transit incentives.

A 39-unit manufactured home community in Rifle that a California real estate investment firm purchased in December is part of a portfolio of seven Western Slope parks consisting of more than 700 homesites and recently acquired by the company.

Lamplighter Mobile Home Park in Rifle sold for about $3.63 million last December to San Francisco-based real estate investment firm, Primrose Real Estate.

A 39-unit manufactured home community in Rifle that a California real estate investment firm purchased in December is part of a portfolio of seven Western Slope parks consisting of more

A 39-unit manufactured home community in Rifle that a California real estate investment firm purchased in December is part of a portfolio of seven Western Slope parks consisting of more

An analysis of a calendar year's worth of data confirms that the side-entrance traffic makes up a significant portion of total traffic, as drivers seek to beat the gridlock that typically chokes Highway 82 during the morning and afternoon peak periods. Added together, vehicle counts from Highway 82 and Power Plant Road through all of 2025 show last year's traffic approaching a 1993 threshold established as a benchmark to stay below.

The new counter on McLain Flats Road near the Sunnyside trailhead recorded an average of 2,408 vehicles a day in 2025, topping at 5,783 on June 12.