Colorado Springs, CO–In mid-October 2010, the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) was notified by the Colorado Department of Transportation of the availability of approximately $7 million in funding available from projects that had been completed under budget. In order to speed up the use of these funds, PPACG transportation planners asked local entities for a list of potential projects. This includes rolling projects into the current Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) from the future to the present and other projects that would not require verification of Air Quality Conformity. During their December 8, 2010, meeting, the PPACG Board of Directors approved using $2.7 million to bring six projects from the future into the current year and the remaining $4.2 million was programmed to initiate the first phase of improvements to the Cimarron Interchange at I-25 and US-24.
The Cimarron Interchange is the gateway into the mountains for 50 miles both north and south of Colorado Springs. This interchange funnels commercial and recreational traffic headed to national forests, ski resorts, and mountain communities west of Colorado Springs, and also provides an important gateway for the downtown and the Westside. This vital crossroads has been capacity constrained and functionally substandard for many years. Because the traffic passing through this interchange also includes trucks, campers, and recreational vehicles driven by visitors to the region, slow travel conditions occur year-round, most noticeably in peak travel times and the summer tourism season. The $4.2 million is for immediate right-of-way acquisition in Phase 1 of the four-phase project. Phase 1, which is estimated to cost $17 million, will see a new southbound off-ramp constructed that will eliminate the principle reason for congestion at this intersection and implement needed safety improvements.
"This is the first step in working to improve an important interchange by increasing mobility and addressing traffic congestion in the heart of our community," said District 3 El Paso County Commissioner and PPACG Board Member Sallie Clark. "This roadway provides an economic benefit and is an integral gateway to downtown Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and our neighboring communities and counties to the west. I'm very pleased that as our planning region representative, the PPACG board has shown its commitment for moving these needed improvements forward. With the right-of-way funding in place, it will be easier to move the project along, once construction dollars are available. This now places the Cimarron and I-25 interchange at a higher regional priority level to be immediately eligible for future funding requests for the total project," Clark said.
In addition to the Cimarron Interchange project, the following six other projects were advanced with these funds:
- The final phase of the 10-year Manitou Avenue pedestrian and drainage improvement construction project, $1,054,596.
- Completing the first phase of the City of Colorado Springs Pedestrian Access and Mobility Improvement project, $144,643
- City of Colorado Springs Traffic Signal upgrade project, $680,099.
- Purchase of needed equipment for Transit for Elderly and Disabled persons, $25,660.
- Preliminary design of the relocated Marksheffel Road between SH 94 and Mesa Ridge Parkway, $725,001.
- Environmental analysis and preliminary design of the North Nevada corridor between Fillmore and Austin Bluffs, $1,550,265.
PPACG is a voluntary association of 16 municipal and county governments serving a regional community. Since 1967, PPACG has worked to ensure that local governments have a forum to discuss issues that cross their political boundaries, identify shared opportunities and challenges, and develop collaborative strategies for action. For more information, visit www.ppacg.org
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