Cycling
restrictions in Fourmile Canyon begin April 4
No daytime, weekday recreational cycling due to safety concerns during
construction
Boulder County, Colo. - Beginning
at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4, cycling on Fourmile Canyon Drive will be
restricted between Boulder Canyon Drive/SH 119 and the Sunset townsite and also
along Gold Run Road from Salina Junction to just south of Gold Hill. Cycling restrictions
will be enforced during project working hours, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday. Restrictions will be enforced until officials deem the area
once again safe for cycling.
Canyon
residents who rely on cycling for commuting and errands will be exempted from
restrictions. Residents will need to carry photo identification that proves
they live in the canyon. They can also obtain a cycling pass by contacting
Andrew Barth at abarth@bouldercounty.org or by calling
303-441-1032. The passes are good for individual use and are non-transferrable.
The
restriction will be enforced by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone
violating the restriction could be subject to citation by law enforcement.
The
restriction is being enacted due to safety concerns stemming from the extremely
high volume of construction activity taking place in the canyon. There are
currently three major flood recovery projects taking place and there is one
more that is yet to start – lower Fourmile Permanent Flood recovery anticipated
to start later this summer. Each project requires a heavy volume of large truck
traffic that heads up and down the road during working hours. Due to the
narrow, curvy nature of the canyon’s roads, it has become increasingly
difficult to safely share the road between cars, trucks, and cyclists. Trucks
hauling materials take up nearly the entire lane, which leaves little room for
cars, let along cars and cyclists.
Boulder
County Transportation thanks everyone for abiding by the restrictions. We
understand how important and popular Fourmile Canyon is for cycling and we will
do our best to lift the restrictions as soon as possible.
Courtesy is
Contagious – Share the Road Boulder
County is asking for patience and understanding while the restriction is in place.
The lengths and widths of the trucks used to haul materials can force them into
the opposite lane in areas with tight curves and where the road has been
narrowed due to a washed out shoulder. In addition, fully-loaded trucks may not
be able to stop quickly to avoid cyclists moving downhill. Boulder County would
like to avoid any accident that could cause any bodily injury to cyclists or
motorists.
Sunshine,
Lefthand, and other arterial canyon roads that are open to all modes are likely
to see a large increase in cycling activity during the work in other canyons.
The county is asking all drivers and cyclists to please be aware of their
surroundings and other roadway users at all times, and remember to share the
road. Motorists are asked to provide cyclists with 3 feet of space, if safely
possible, when passing, and cyclists are reminded that they are only permitted
to ride two-abreast as long as they are not interfering with motorists.
During
all flood recovery work, Boulder County is asking that all cyclists ride
single-file when using mountain roads west of U.S. 36. Motorists are allowed to
cross a double-yellow lane-dividing line when passing cyclists, but please use
caution doing so when entering curves as an approaching car may not be seen
until the two vehicles are too close to avoid collision.
While
Boulder County Transportation strives to complete all projects on-time, work is
weather dependent and there may be delays due to rain or other unfavorable
working conditions.
For
more information on the work, visit the
project website
or contact Andrew Barth, at abarth@bouldercounty.org or 303-441-1032.
All
current Boulder County Transportation roadway project information, including
regular maintenance and flood-recovery activity, can be found at www.BoCoConeZones.com.
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