The Montezuma County Commission is seeking public input on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s proposed changes to the Road BB and U.S. 491 intersection.
Two community meetings are scheduled: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center, 21615 Road S; and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Pleasant View School, 15238 Road CC.
Comments gathered at the meetings will become part of the county commission’s recommendations that will be submitted to CDOT during a public hearing at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30, and the county commission meeting room.
CDOT and the county have been struggling with how to handle the intersection, which is listed by CDOT as a priority for improvement because of safety issues traffic accidents.
The intersection is at the base of a hill that obscures the view of fast-moving southbound highway traffic for vehicles turning left onto Road BB from the highway. Vehicles turning onto the highway from Road BB also have limited sight distance because of the hill.
Two CDOT proposed changes for the intersection are controversial for local residents, who are pushing to keep it as it is now.
One CDOT proposal would create a barrier that would make the Road BB intersection a “right-in, right-out only” to eliminate the dangerous left-hand turns.
The other proposal would close Road BB at the intersection with U.S. 491 and redirect traffic up to Road CC where there is not a sight distance problem. In exchange for closing the intersection, CDOT has offered the county the $630,000, earmarked by CDOT to construct the “right-in, right-out” only intersection change. The funds would be used for county road improvements in the Pleasant View area, including chip sealing Road 15 between Roads CC and BB.
Road BB is a thoroughfare for local farmers and ranchers going about their business and for tourists traveling to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Lowry Ruins and Hovenweep National Monument. It is also a common route for Kinder Morgan vehicle traffic. However, the company’s heavy truck traffic is prohibited from using Road BB at the intersection with the highway.
Pleasant View residents are concerned that closing the intersection will redirect more traffic past the Pleasant View School on Road CC. They are advocating to keep the intersection as it is, and improve safety by lowering the highway speed limit and adding signs warning of a dangerous intersection. The speed limit is currently 65 mph, with a suggested speed of 55 mph.
CDOT reports that cutting the hill back to improve the sight distance is cost-prohibitive and would be in excess of $4 million. “Closing the road is one option, and CDOT has put money on the table,” said county road supervisor Rob Englehart. “We don’t have to do it, but (CDOT) can still put in the ‘right-in, right-out only’ because it is their right of way.”
Of the 100 intersections in Region 5, the U.S. 491-Road BB intersection is one of the top six targeted for improvement.
“It’s an unsafe intersection, and as traffic continues to increase, odds are accidents will increase,” said CDOT program engineer Ed Archuleta. “We have an obligation to address it.”
CDOT also proposes to make nearby Road 16 where it intersects with U.S. 491 a “right-in, right-out only” because of safety concerns.