The state of the streets in Fleming is a frequent topic of conversation around town, usually introduced by a very familiar question: When is the Town going to fix the roads?
It’s a fair question, and it’s one the Town Council has been working hard to answer. To get a realistic idea of what it would take to completely fix our Main Street roads, council members spoke with several infrastructure experts. The takeaway was eye-opening: a large-scale project like ours comes with a price tag in the millions.
Because that cost is well beyond our local budget, the Town knew we would need the assistance of grants to make it happen, so we began researching our options. Through that process, we learned a crucial piece of information: you cannot just hire a paving crew and start digging. The absolute first step to permanently fixing the roads is to hire a professional engineer to design the project.
Stepping Up for Fleming
With this information in mind, a team got to work to position Fleming for financial help. A committee was formed who rolled up their sleeves to put together a RAISE grant application.
Recognizing that a regional approach would stand a better chance of approval, they partnered with several other towns in Northeastern Colorado to submit a joint application. Fleming was a major contributor to this effort. Our local team worked closely on the writing, and several photographs were taken of Main Street to clearly document our needs. Most residents likely didn't even know this paperwork was moving behind the scenes, but the hard work paid off. The joint application was officially approved back in July 2024.
Where the Project Stands Now
Because we want to keep everyone informed, it’s important to share where things currently stand. While the RAISE grant was approved two years ago, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is still holding the funds, and Fleming has not yet received the money. This kind of delay is very common with state and federal infrastructure grants as they clear administrative pipelines. We are keeping a close eye on it and waiting for the funds to clear.
Why the Engineer Comes First
As a reminder, this specific grant money is strictly earmarked for hiring an engineer, not for the actual asphalt or construction.
While we all want to see the physical roadwork begin, getting an engineer's plan is the master key for the future. With this grant money, the Town will be able to hire an expert to create the official blueprints to fix the road. Once Fleming has those engineering plans in hand, we can use them as the mandatory documentation required to apply for the massive construction grants needed to fund the actual paving.
The Town will continue to monitor the status of the funds with the DOT and will let the community know as soon as we are able to officially hire the engineer and begin the planning phase.