2008-04-15_REVISION - M1980244 (268)

Home Browse Search

Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company MLE Traffic Impact Study has proposed to construct an auxiliary westbound left turn deceleration lane at this intersection. Additionally, CC&V has proposed to construct an eastbound acceleration lane on SH 67 for northbound right turns from CR 821 to SH 67. These auxiliary lanes will not only improve safety for intersection traffic, but will be a benefit to traffic operations. The MLE project will add a relatively small amount of traffic to area roadways due to the construction of Phase 5 of the VLF. This traffic will only be temporary traffic, however, and will not be a part of the normal everyday traffic once that facility is built. Future daily traffic projections were made assuming that the background traffic (non- mine related traffic) would grow at the rate of. about two percent per year. Additional traffic would include mine related truck deliveries and other mine traffic that was not reflected in the existing traffic counts. The change in delivery route for gasoline, lime, and diesel deliveries was also factored in for the calculation of future traffic and changes to travel patterns. It should be noted that the additional mine related traffic would not be a large increase from the existing volumes because the mine is currently operating at its maximum production levels. However, truck deliveries can vary from day to da_y based on daily needs. The additional mine related traffic added to future traffic was just the difference in traffic volume between what mine officials estimate as their maximum deliveries and what was reflected in the existing counts. A level of service analysis was not done for future traffic. The growth in the future total traffic volumes is not large enough to cause a significant drop in the level of service. Future intersection traffic will still operate at or not significantly less that the current levels of service. In general, the traffic volumes will not cause any operational problems on area roadways or intersections. Overall, changes in traffic volumes and patterns due to the MLE project will not significantly affect traffic operations on the key roadways and intersections around the mine. With the realignment of CR 82 and the auxiliary lane improvements at the CR 821/SH 67 intersection, the impacts of the MLE project will be minimized. Traffic will continue to operate similar to current conditions with ample capacity and increased safety. _ Interstate Engineering, Inc. 2 April, 2008