Late season road projects cause traffic tension in Fountain

Officials in Fountain say traffic congestion in and around town is heavier than expected because of road construction delays caused by rain.

“We deal with it,” said Duane Greenwood, the town’s public works director. “I think everybody’s happy just to see these roads improve. They’re dealing with the inconvenience.”

Asphalt repaving or concrete replacement projects by the Colorado Department of Transportation affect the Santa Fe Avenue Bridge across Interstate 25, the northbound entrance ramp off Santa Fe Avenue, Santa Fe Avenue from the interstate to B Street and Mesa Ridge Parkway from Syracuse Street to Powers Boulevard.

Fountain crews are repaving Bandley Drive and the south end of Santa Fe Avenue.

This summer, crews finished repairs at the railroad crossing near Ohio and Santa Fe avenues, and and repaired cubs and gutters on nearby Race Street.

Greenwood said the city spent $270,000 on the work, which is only about a fourth of what the city needs for street and road repairs.

The town has no crews dedicated specifically for pothole repairs, but this year spent $70,000 to buy its first asphalt patching machine. Greenwood said it increases the efficiency of pothole filling.

Potholes in Fountain aren’t as bad as they are in Colorado Springs, Greenwood said, but Link Road is particularly rough because of traffic from garbage trucks traveling to and from a landfill.

Greenwood expects construction projects to continue until Thanksgiving.

Drivers expressed mixed opinions about the work and its accompanying inconvenience.

“I’m glad to see they’re repairing the roads,” said William Williams, who just returned to town after moving to Utah. “At least they do some of the work at night.”

“You need a lot of patience,” said Christopher Lyon. “Sometimes it’s very frustrating.”