There are some key ways SDS will benefit Fremont County if the
Highway 115 Alternative is chosen:
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There will be $600 million in construction
work in Phase 1, which will result in construction contracts,
local jobs and purchases of local goods and services, such as
gas, supplies, hotel rooms and visits to local restaurants.
Fremont County contractors will be able to compete for these
contracts. With the State Labor Department reporting a jobless
rate of 7.8% in Fremont County, construction for SDS will come
at an ideal time for boosting the local economy. |
| • |
Construction will take approximately three
years. For construction companies dealing with the recession,
this project comes at the right time. The details: |
| |
- $600 million construction total |
| |
- $185 million construction costs in Fremont
County |
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- $60 million for construction labor |
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- Average of 927 jobs, peak workforce of
1,193 total project |
| • |
Local restaurants, gas stations, supply companies, hotels
will benefit from purchases made in Fremont County. |
| • |
We are working now to partner with local water providers on
the project. |
| • |
Fire fighters in Fremont County will be able to use hydrants
near the three SDS pump stations in the county to help fight
fires in remote communities that do not currently have this
resource available. |
| • |
Significant improvement is proposed to transform the Florence
River Park on the Arkansas River into a recreational amenity
for boaters and visitors. |
| • |
Local roads impacted during construction will be restored
to pre-construction conditions or better. |
| • |
Colorado Springs will continue its participation in the Upper
Arkansas Voluntary Flow Management Program that establishes
annual targeted minimum river flow rates set by the Department
of Natural Resources to assure that fishery and recreational
needs in the area are met. |
