2008-11-26_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1987023

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4 - The 1-70 Scout Tuesday, November 25, 2008 'r 25, 2008 Tuesday, November 25 GRADE SEPARATION FROM other safety mechanisms that would have to be put in near the Old Victory Road intersection east of Bennett. is projected to be 4,500 to 5,500 vehicles in 27 years. n 27 years, place," Tschuor said. "We are talking about a fully- Traffic would be allowed the option of turning north at compared to between 1,300 and 2,000 now. Highway Highway walled bridge and needing to take extra precautions the Kiowa Creek Bridge to reach Highway 79 going 79 traffic north of town is expected to jump from 1,800 from 1,800 because of the residential areas underneath" north and southbound Highway 79 traffic could reach cars to 4,000 in 2035. The other three alignments are designated the Highway 36. An option also exists for engineers to "And we are talking about conservative estimates," -stimates," Western, West Central and Eastern alignments with craft a connection to southbound Highway 79 south Tschuor said. es, traffic projected price tags of $16.5 million, $11.8 million of Highway 36. "1 can tell you that in my experiences, traffic and $10.3 million, respectively. "This isn't part of what we have proposed for the projections are never high enough," added Bennett !d Bennett - The Western alternative would send traffic estimated cost, but there is an opportunity that an Town Administrator Matt Reay, who was previously previously approximately a mile west from northbound Highway eastern detour could be constructed from the bridge to a Colorado Department of Transportation engineer ? engineer 79 at the Bennett Recreation Center, turn north for meet up with Highway 79 across the Village Homes and traffic estimator. several miles before tuming back east onto 38th subdivision," Tschuor said. "Right now it is the shortest In addition, Kathy Grabler, a railroad grade )ad grade y d Evans & Avenue northwest of town. An elevated bridge over alignment. There is a chance the grade separation could separation and safety specialist with David Evans & Highway 36 and the railroad tracks is proposed as be an underpass at the creek, but that would increase Associates, said rail traffic is projected to increase 5 increase 5 is the closing of the current Palmer Street railroad the cost. Current cost projections include an overpass percent annually and that doesn't include the possibility possibility crossing. The Highway 79 crossing at the elevators grade separation. This would be a more direct option of additional coal train traffic dropping down from AMM 61111, town from would remain open. for drivers trying to get to the Kiowa-Bennett road Wyoming on its way to southeastern Colorado. rado. A temporary pool of v "This alignment would allow another access point from Highway 79 north of town and vice versa. The "We have gone from 12 trains a day not too long )t too long partment practice bL for people getting the recreation building and fields that current Highway 36 setup of getting into Bennett ago to 18 per day in Bennett," Grabler said. "And we t. "And we -se kind of are planned and some other access to residences and would also be maintained." can't take any railroad right-of-way for these kind of areas in west Bennett," Tschuor said. "It's a little more WHY THE STUDY? projects, because it allows for expansion of the rail of the rail expensive, because it would require some significant Significant increases in both automobile and train system, if needed." paving and improvements along 38th Avenue." traffic along the 1-70 Corridor have led to the railroad TIMEFRAME The West Central route would connect Highway grade separation discussion and feasibility study Reay and Tschuor both said the railroad grade oad grade r 79 to First Street with a 500-foot bridge going over process. separation process is in its infancy and that it will be it it will be begins. 18.611 E. r Highway 36 and the tracks. Like the Western proposal, "We are talking about traffic loads on local roadways many years before any construction, if any, begins. the West Central route would continue north to 38th multiplying two to four times current levels by 2035," "This is the beginning of a very long process and rocess and Avenue and take traffic eastbound to Highway 79. Tschuor said. "This is going to be a lengthy process nobody really knows what long means," Reay said. Reay said. "This is the most direct route within town being and getting it started now will ensure something could "This is being started right now because, for any z, for any pretty much a straight shot from 79 to First Street," be done by the time a lot of this extra traffic becomes funds to really be available for this kind of project, of project, Tschuor said. "There are some issues we have to deal a reality." it needs to be part of the [Denver Regional Council al Council with, including some of the potential impacts along For example, car and truck traffic along Colfax of Government's) Metro Vision 2035 plan and this in and this as that part First Street and the additional paving and widening Avenue between the western city limits and Cordella kind of study and affiliation with CDOT gets that part for First Street and 38th Avenue." Estates subdivision is expected to be between 8,000 fulfilled." The Eastern Alignment would connect Highway 36 and 9,000 per day in 2035, compared to 2,100 Tschuor said no environmental assessments or other nts or other at the Kiowa Creek Bridge east of town to Highway 79 currently. Traffic at Colfax and Kiowa-Bennett Road required impact assessments have been done. one. imnh ?~i MI"PY Nov. 28-29 TILANKSGII"NG Dec. 5-6 Locally owned trash company servicing M -DY014 Dec. 12-13 on. e Co-o A pickup. Dec. 19-20 the 1.10 Corridor in residential & commercial garbage pickup. (303)822-5400 Daily Li Specice Open douse ( SHERER ER ' 721d4Y, `Dec. 5, 4-8 p.m. y I ewel s satutday, `Dec. 6, io a.m.-q. p.m. AUTO 1 ~ 0 HAPPY H Come view the latest caeations ( PAR1 S FS 33355 E. H" ~aomes with 9 710 COLFAX AV E., C AVE., 2udY K'10m • (303)913-7094 BENNETT TT AA -%71. t.,,