Two construction projects will create tra c hassles in Evergreen

Both Je erson County and EPRD expect to have timelines for construction ready in the next few months and will communicate them to the public in as many ways as possible. ey don’t know yet whether construction timelines will overlap.

More Work Planned

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Mike Vanatta is not sleeping well these days as he wrestles with how to keep Evergreen moving despite construction starting this summer that undoubtedly will snarl tra c. Vanatta, the assistant director for Je erson County’s transportation and engineering division, said Xcel Energy’s work on Highway 73 in December and January and the trafc hassles it caused are an example of how he doesn’t want things to go when Je erson County widens and improves Highway 73 from Bu alo Park Road to Plettner Lane.

Add to that the fact that the Evergreen Park & Recreation District has hired Evergreen’s ESCO Construction to build the Evergreen Lake North Trail, which will create a detour for those traveling on Evergreen Parkway.

Je erson County plans community meetings in March to go over the plans, while EPRD will use its website, social media and more to communicate information about its project.

O cials in both organizations say they are working hard to make sure tra c detours and delays go as smoothly as possible. Plus a few months of hassle will lead to better tra c movement in both directions on Highway 73 and beautiful new trails along the north edge of Evergreen Lake, which is used extensively by locals and visitors.

Both Je erson County and the rec district are planning awareness campaigns to make sure people know about detours and interruptions to driving. ey are also speaking with rst responders and schools because of potential tra c impacts.

ey ask drivers for patience and planning, so they are not blindsided by tra c delays.

While 2023 is going to be di cult for driving around downtown Evergreen, be aware that the Colorado Department of Transportation is planning a project in 2024 to repave about 5.5 miles on Highway 74 from Upper Bear Creek Road to just before Idledale. The project includes resurfacing the road, upgrading guardrails, upgrading curb ramps for better cyclist and pedestrian access, improving crosswalks, and potential shoulder widening in some locations. The project is in the preliminary design stages, according to Presley Fowler, a CDOT spokeswoman. CDOT doesn’t have a specific timeline yet, but it is sure to mean tra c delays.

It’s been 23 years since Evergreen has seen extended construction near downtown. In 2000, the Colorado Department of Transportation made improvements and widened theHighway 73/74 intersection.

Highway 73 construction

“ e Xcel construction (in Decem- ber and January) is a good wakeup call for the overall project,” Vanatta said. “We have to gure out how to make it work,” especially when construction is expected to take between 12 and 18 months.

Vanatta is considering getting contractors to nish sections from the north to the south on Highway 73, so drivers can see the work being completed and to make it easier for those needing to access Little Cub Creek Road.

“ e work being done between Little Cub Creek Road and the Evergreen library will be more di cult,” he said, adding, “We’ll do what we can, so we’re not adding to the misery of the neighbors.” e design will widen a half-mile of the road to include a center leftturn lane in sections of the road, a southbound bike lane on the west side and a shared-use path on the east side. It will also provide four parking lots: angled parking across from the former church, parallel parking in front of the former church, angled parking across from Evergreen Fire/Rescue Station 1 and

Above suspicion EVERGREEN – Carlton Condo was concerned. He’d been hearing “rustling noises” coming from the adjacent unit’s attic for some days, he told a deputy on Jan. 3, and has been concerned that maybe somebody is trying to burgle his neighbor’s condo via the top story. Carlton’s concern on his neighbor’s behalf came home just the day before when he stepped into his garage to discover “a small amount of dust” on his vehicle’s hood and the attic entry cover “slightly shifted.” He hypothesized that whoever was rustling around in his neighbor’s attic might have taken the high road over to his own. Noting that nothing appeared to be missing or amiss at Carlton’s condo, and receiving assurances from Carlton’s neighbor that everything seemed swell from crawlspace to cupola, the deputy recorded the case as simply suspicious.

ROMEO must fly

SOUTH JEFFCO – Oscar wasn’t exactly their favorite customer to begin with, and when the manager saw him heading into the kitchen