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Founders Parkway: An accident waiting to happen
Want to avoid a traffic accident while out and about on the streets of Castle Rock? Well put down the cell phone, hold the wheel with both hands, drive defensively and avoid Founders Parkway, the most dangerous road in town, according to the first annual Castle Rock Accident Facts Report.
By By:Alex C. Pasquariello
Want to avoid a traffic accident while out and about on the streets of Castle Rock? Well put down the cell phone, hold the wheel with both hands, drive defensively and avoid Founders Parkway, the most dangerous road in town, according to the first annual Castle Rock Accident Facts Report.
The report, compiled by the town's Public Works Department, represents the first time Castle Rock has statistically determined where and when traffic accidents are most common. In doing so, engineers considered both the total number of accidents and the number of vehicles passing through an intersection.
"This report is a tool for agencies trying to make the town safer," Transportation Engineer Dan Sailer told town council in a special presentation of the report last week. "In the public works department we will use this information to develop projects that reduce accidents. Our goal is to make the streets of Castle Rock as safe as possible."
The intersection at Ridge Road and Enderud Boulevard had the highest accident rate in 2004, according to the report. That intersection saw 15 traffic accidents even though it had the lowest average volume of all the intersections studied.
The second, third and fourth highest accident-prone intersections were Founders Parkway and Allen Way, 29 accidents; Founders Parkway and Front Street, 31 accidents; and Founders Parkway and Milestone Drive with nine accidents. These three intersections experienced high volume due to their proximity to the Milestone shopping center. The fifth highest accident rate occurred at the intersection of Founders Parkway and Crowfoot Valley Road where 14 accidents were recorded.
Most of the dangerous intersections were already scheduled to be revamped this year, out-going Public Works Director Bob Watts said.
Safety at the intersection at Ridge Road and Enderud Boulevard will be improved significantly with new acceleration lanes planned to be built this summer, Watts said. That project will be funded by a Federal Hazard Elimination grant.
The intersection will be redone completely by 2009 if voters pass a transportation bond issue question on this April's municipal ballot, Watts said.
After hearing Sailer's report, District 7 Councilman Brad Mueller said its findings are important for future management of the town, especially in light of the fact that the most dangerous intersections were on roadways upon which his constituency is dependent.
"My constituency in Founders Village is concerned with safety issues along Founders Parkway and especially the intersection of Ridge and Enderud, which they use to get home," he said.
In 2004, one traffic accident was reported every 16 hours for a total of 523. Almost one out of every three of those accidents involved injuries, for a total of 141. Two people died in traffic accidents in 2004, and 22 accidents involved alcohol or drugs, the report found.
Significant percentages of accidents in Castle Rock involved older and younger demographics, Sailer said. A quarter of all drivers involved in accidents were 25 or younger. Sixteen percent were over the age of 60.
Although Castle Rock often experiences extreme weather, the report found most accidents occurred while conditions were dry and clear.
"That tells me people need to learn to drive," Mayor Ray Waterman said.
Contact Alex C. Pasquariello at
apasquariello@ccnewspapers.net.
The report, compiled by the town's Public Works Department, represents the first time Castle Rock has statistically determined where and when traffic accidents are most common. In doing so, engineers considered both the total number of accidents and the number of vehicles passing through an intersection.
"This report is a tool for agencies trying to make the town safer," Transportation Engineer Dan Sailer told town council in a special presentation of the report last week. "In the public works department we will use this information to develop projects that reduce accidents. Our goal is to make the streets of Castle Rock as safe as possible."
The intersection at Ridge Road and Enderud Boulevard had the highest accident rate in 2004, according to the report. That intersection saw 15 traffic accidents even though it had the lowest average volume of all the intersections studied.
The second, third and fourth highest accident-prone intersections were Founders Parkway and Allen Way, 29 accidents; Founders Parkway and Front Street, 31 accidents; and Founders Parkway and Milestone Drive with nine accidents. These three intersections experienced high volume due to their proximity to the Milestone shopping center. The fifth highest accident rate occurred at the intersection of Founders Parkway and Crowfoot Valley Road where 14 accidents were recorded.
Most of the dangerous intersections were already scheduled to be revamped this year, out-going Public Works Director Bob Watts said.
Safety at the intersection at Ridge Road and Enderud Boulevard will be improved significantly with new acceleration lanes planned to be built this summer, Watts said. That project will be funded by a Federal Hazard Elimination grant.
The intersection will be redone completely by 2009 if voters pass a transportation bond issue question on this April's municipal ballot, Watts said.
After hearing Sailer's report, District 7 Councilman Brad Mueller said its findings are important for future management of the town, especially in light of the fact that the most dangerous intersections were on roadways upon which his constituency is dependent.
"My constituency in Founders Village is concerned with safety issues along Founders Parkway and especially the intersection of Ridge and Enderud, which they use to get home," he said.
In 2004, one traffic accident was reported every 16 hours for a total of 523. Almost one out of every three of those accidents involved injuries, for a total of 141. Two people died in traffic accidents in 2004, and 22 accidents involved alcohol or drugs, the report found.
Significant percentages of accidents in Castle Rock involved older and younger demographics, Sailer said. A quarter of all drivers involved in accidents were 25 or younger. Sixteen percent were over the age of 60.
Although Castle Rock often experiences extreme weather, the report found most accidents occurred while conditions were dry and clear.
"That tells me people need to learn to drive," Mayor Ray Waterman said.
Contact Alex C. Pasquariello at
apasquariello@ccnewspapers.net.
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