And they call the thing rodeo

Colfax Avenue safety improvements could wrap by 2024

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Since 2015, there have been 729 crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists in Lakewood — 28 resulted in deaths, according to Colorado Department of Transportation data. Busy Colfax Avenue is a particularly dangerous area and a focus of a city e ort to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers alike. A crash occurred on the stretch between Wadsworth and Sheridan boulevards every other day from 2015 to 2019.

Contestants enjoy wintertime rodeo at Je co Fairgrounds

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Lakewood’s Mikayla Wilson practically grew up at the Je erson County Fairgrounds, roping and riding in the county’s rodeo team with friend Joey Quintana.

So, because Je co hadn’t hosted a rodeo at the fairgrounds in more than ve years, they decided to host one of their own.

After more than six months of planning, more than 200 contestants and hundreds of spectators turned out for the March 11 Winter Rodeo at the fairgrounds. e Mountain Valley Rodeo Company hosted contestants from all over Colorado and surrounding states.

While Colorado’s rodeo season typically starts in April, Wilson said, “We did this one as the winter rodeo to get people ready for the season and bring something back to Je co.”

Not only was the time of year unique, but the schedule was too, e March 11 event was a full rodeo but only lasted a day. Contestants competed in a slack in the morning, which featured all contestants, Wilson explained. en, 10-12 contestants were randomly selected to rope and ride again at 4 p.m., when the bulk of the spectators were expected.

Wilson and participants explained.

For instance, 50 barrel racers signed up to compete in the morning’s slack, and then 12 ran later in the performance. is way, Wilson explained, the spectators get a taste

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P2 e timeline for improvements meant to reduce crashes is coming together. e project’s design will be 100% complete this year, though permits have already been issued, with some construction underway. e goal is to complete everything by 2024.

“ is segment of Colfax is just not safe for pedestrians and drivers, the statistics bear that out,” Lakewood’s Comprehensive Planning and Research Manager Roger Wadnal said in a March 6 study session. “ e issue is primarily pedestrians getting hit by vehicles, and vehicles crashing into other vehicles because of the condition of the streets.”

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