U.S. 287 project gets another look

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

The Colorado Department of Transportation is putting the widening project for U.S. Highway 287 on hold for a few months while it studies the alternatives further. "People brought up very good points" about the proposed project north of Fort Collins, said project manager Carol Parr, referring to public comment the agency gathered in December.

Parr said highway officials will review the environmental assessment documents over the next couple of months to make sure they addressed all concerns. In particular, they want to be sure they have adequate information on two topics--the safety issue along 287 and the old Elliott Dairy, identified as a historic resource in the EA.

Alternative A-4, the preferred alternative in the EA, would involve widening the existing highway between State Highway 1 and the LaPorte Bypass. Alternative B, which would impact the former dairy, would be a new roadway running south of and parallel to the current highway, then tying into the LaPorte Bypass.

"There were a lot of questions brought up by people," Parr said, especially about safety. There could be safety issues along the current route regardless of the alternative chosen, she noted. If A-4 is chosen, residents are concerned about how close the widened highway will come to their homes and businesses. If B is chosen, the current roadway would not be improved and could have the same safety issues as it currently has.

If CDOT changes its preferred alternative, the agency will schedule another public meeting. "We want people to be satisfied with the alignment," Parr said.