GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Downtown Development Authority and city officials are ready to move forward with the final phase of street improvements along Cooper Avenue between the new city parking garage and the new library building.

The $800,000 project is primarily being funded by Garfield County through an agreement reached between the DDA and the county commissioners earlier this year.

It will include trees and other landscaping in the block of Cooper between Eighth and Ninth streets, a small pedestrian plaza next to the parking garage, new street lights, a brick and steel fence feature separating the sidewalk from the Sunlight Ski and Bike Shop parking lot, and diagonal parking along the west side of Cooper.

Work will also be done to the existing public parking lot between the fire station and the Methodist Church, increasing parking capacity from 30 spaces currently to 44 spaces, according to Dave Betley, assistant public works director for the city.

The plan originally included “bulb-out” features at each corner of both the Eighth and Ninth street intersections to help reduce the walking distance for pedestrians crossing the street, DDA Executive Director Leslie Bethel said.

Some of those have since been removed from the plans, because they would create tight turns, especially for fire trucks going in and out of the fire station, she said.

The project was advertised for bids last Friday, and a contract will likely be awarded by City Council at its Sept. 19 meeting. Work is expected to begin by Oct. 1 and continue into next spring before completion.

jstroud@postindependent.com