Larimer County has received a federal safety grant to straighten the switchback on Stove Prairie Road about halfway between Colorado Highway 14 and County Road 52E. Weather permitting, work is scheduled to begin on the 800-foot stretch of road at the end of April and be completed by July 4.

“The project will eliminate the steep switchback curve by cutting down the crest of the hill,” explained Joe Temple, project manager for the county. “We’ve had lots of accidents in that area, especially motorcycle accidents, so that’s why we got the federal grant, to make it an easier grade.”

Temple said that county crews began clearing trees and doing other prep work for the project at the end of February. Stove Prairie Road will remain open during construction, with alternating traffic lanes creating delays of about 10 minutes, he added.

The county posted bid documents for contractors on its website at www.larimer.org on Feb. 9. Bids for the $280,000 project will be opened on March 1.