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CDOT: Fatalities on 86 'random'
After Parker-area Sen. John Evans' standing-room-only meeting Jan. 4 about the safety of Colorado 83 and 86, the Colorado Department of Transportation began considering several improvements to the corridors.
By By: Christine McManus
After Parker-area Sen. John Evans' standing-room-only meeting Jan. 4 about the safety of Colorado 83 and 86, the Colorado Department of Transportation began considering several improvements to the corridors.
Since August, seven people died in traffic accidents on Colorado 86. While residents want the highways expanded, CDOT said it has no money for such a project, especially in an area that has not officially been established as a state priority area.
CDOT last month told the News-Press that the accidents, although unfortunate, were random. Compared with the traffic increase over 10 years, the increase in the rate of accidents is not proportional, CDOT said. From 1995-1999 there were no fatal accidents between Franktown and Elizabeth. Since 1989, 14 people died on Colorado 86 between Castle Rock and the Douglas/Elbert county line, CDOT said.
Many who attended the January meeting with CDOT recently received follow-up letters from Ken DePinto, a CDOT traffic operations engineer. The letter listed several definite improvements and several possible improvements.
q CDOT will add more speed-limit signs. At this point, DePinto could not specify how many signs, nor where they would be placed.
q By this time next year, DePinto said CDOT will place four electronic message boards and six emergency call boxes along Colorado 83 and 86. Portable electronic-message boards will alert drivers on maintenance, weather, construction and accidents. Two will be placed at the intersection of Colorado 83 and 86. Two more will be on Colorado 83.
q Boxes with emergency phones will be placed on Colorado 83 at Lake Gulch Road, Russellville Road, the truck pullout near Castlewood Canyon State Park, near the Cherry Valley Elementary School, Jones Road and Palmer Divide Road.
CDOT said it will review several other possible measures.
q CDOT said it might add new signs to alert travelers of upcoming intersections. Crews might replace existing highway signs with larger signs, adding street sign names. The signs cost about $700 each to make and install, DePinto said.
q CDOT said it will review the passing zones on Colorado 86 from Castle Rock east, through Franktown and into Elizabeth. Surveyors said they will pay particular attention to the section of Colorado 86 between Flintwood Road and Colorado 83. Six of the seven fatal wrecks happened east of Colorado 83.
Crews paint stripes when the weather gets warmer, DePinto said. Road painters possibly would reconsider where to paint stripes, and whether no-passing zones should be established.
q Improvements are planned at the intersection of Colorado 83 and 86. CDOT engineers are redesigning the intersection. By summer, DePinto said, engineers will seek bids from contractors who want to do the construction work.
q If funding is available, CDOT said it would begin a "Corridor Optimization Study" this summer.
q CDOT will ask inspectors to tell truck drivers to use the pullout on Colorado 86. Safety inspections should include muffler inspections to reduce noise pollution in the Franktown area.
At the January town meeting, residents complained about semi-tractor trailer truck noise from "jake brakes." In response, CDOT said it would contact the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Services. The departments conduct safety inspections and truck weight checks.
No further public meetings are scheduled while CDOT works on the signs, call boxes, electronic boards, corridor study and other possible improvements. Any new signs and restriping will be done by early summer, DePinto said.
"With regard to the many other comments we received during our meeting, they will be reviewed during the Colorado 86 Corridor Optimization Study," DePinto said. "As we get the funding, we will try to do more."
Much of the traffic on east Colorado 86 is from increased populations traveling to and from Elbert County. In Elbert County, $1.3 million in construction improvements are planned this summer. In 2005 and 2007, CDOT will spend $1.5 million on road construction in Elbert County.
Since August, seven people died in traffic accidents on Colorado 86. While residents want the highways expanded, CDOT said it has no money for such a project, especially in an area that has not officially been established as a state priority area.
CDOT last month told the News-Press that the accidents, although unfortunate, were random. Compared with the traffic increase over 10 years, the increase in the rate of accidents is not proportional, CDOT said. From 1995-1999 there were no fatal accidents between Franktown and Elizabeth. Since 1989, 14 people died on Colorado 86 between Castle Rock and the Douglas/Elbert county line, CDOT said.
Many who attended the January meeting with CDOT recently received follow-up letters from Ken DePinto, a CDOT traffic operations engineer. The letter listed several definite improvements and several possible improvements.
q CDOT will add more speed-limit signs. At this point, DePinto could not specify how many signs, nor where they would be placed.
q By this time next year, DePinto said CDOT will place four electronic message boards and six emergency call boxes along Colorado 83 and 86. Portable electronic-message boards will alert drivers on maintenance, weather, construction and accidents. Two will be placed at the intersection of Colorado 83 and 86. Two more will be on Colorado 83.
q Boxes with emergency phones will be placed on Colorado 83 at Lake Gulch Road, Russellville Road, the truck pullout near Castlewood Canyon State Park, near the Cherry Valley Elementary School, Jones Road and Palmer Divide Road.
CDOT said it will review several other possible measures.
q CDOT said it might add new signs to alert travelers of upcoming intersections. Crews might replace existing highway signs with larger signs, adding street sign names. The signs cost about $700 each to make and install, DePinto said.
q CDOT said it will review the passing zones on Colorado 86 from Castle Rock east, through Franktown and into Elizabeth. Surveyors said they will pay particular attention to the section of Colorado 86 between Flintwood Road and Colorado 83. Six of the seven fatal wrecks happened east of Colorado 83.
Crews paint stripes when the weather gets warmer, DePinto said. Road painters possibly would reconsider where to paint stripes, and whether no-passing zones should be established.
q Improvements are planned at the intersection of Colorado 83 and 86. CDOT engineers are redesigning the intersection. By summer, DePinto said, engineers will seek bids from contractors who want to do the construction work.
q If funding is available, CDOT said it would begin a "Corridor Optimization Study" this summer.
q CDOT will ask inspectors to tell truck drivers to use the pullout on Colorado 86. Safety inspections should include muffler inspections to reduce noise pollution in the Franktown area.
At the January town meeting, residents complained about semi-tractor trailer truck noise from "jake brakes." In response, CDOT said it would contact the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Services. The departments conduct safety inspections and truck weight checks.
No further public meetings are scheduled while CDOT works on the signs, call boxes, electronic boards, corridor study and other possible improvements. Any new signs and restriping will be done by early summer, DePinto said.
"With regard to the many other comments we received during our meeting, they will be reviewed during the Colorado 86 Corridor Optimization Study," DePinto said. "As we get the funding, we will try to do more."
Much of the traffic on east Colorado 86 is from increased populations traveling to and from Elbert County. In Elbert County, $1.3 million in construction improvements are planned this summer. In 2005 and 2007, CDOT will spend $1.5 million on road construction in Elbert County.
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