Safety concern could prevent U.S. Space Command from coming to Pikes Peak Region

Colorado has three out of five potential locations for the newly reinstated U.S. Space Command but lawmakers say safety concerns could prevent the program from coming to the Centennial State.

The three locations are Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases in El Paso County and Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. Congressman Doug Lamborn says Schriever and Peterson are the ideal locations because of Schriever already has the National Space Defence Center and Peterson has the necessary infrastructure.

The problem is the state highway both air force bases are on. Highway 94 is known to have several crashes. Within the past decade, three airmen have died there from car crashes. Lamborn says, “it’s too narrow to have to have thousands of people commute to Schriever each day.”

To fix the issue, Lamborn says he sat down with Governor Jared Polis to make widening highway 94 and adding traffic signs a top priority to make it safer. “CDOT wants to do this but it just hasn’t risen up far enough on their priority list,” Lamborn says.

He estimates it will cost about $10 million. We spoke to A CDOT spokesperson that tells us surveyors will be out on the highway looking at what they can improve. They say in the short term they may add more passing lanes but in the long run, it will be widening the road.

However, even if the project is approved it won’t be completed by August which is when the Pentagon will make the decision on where the command will go. Lamborn says showing that El Paso County is serious about making improvements should be enough to convince officials. “It shows the Pentagon that we are serious about addressing the infrastructure that’s needed.”

Hoping it will be enough to bring the space command to the Pikes Peak Region.