Roundabout at Garden of the Gods entrance part of 30th Street widening plan in COS
Changes continue at Garden of the Gods — first, shuttle buses and now a roundabout planned for the park’s east entrance at Gateway Road.
The roundabout is part of an overall widening plan for a 2-mile stretch of 30th Street between Fontanero Street and Mesa Road.
“It’s the most common route for people entering the park,” said Robin Allen, a civil engineer for the city of Colorado Springs and the project manager. “We want to retain the natural feel of the corridor, reduce traffic congestion, increase safety and give people a sense of arrival at the park.”
For some visitors, a roundabout seems out of place at the park’s entrance.
“I’d rather it stay the way it is,” said Melissa Maczko, of Colorado Springs. “I think we’d be ruining the character of the West Side and the atmosphere of the park.”
“Roundabouts are a waste of tax money,” said Jeromie Cadry, of Colorado Springs. “But I’m in favor of providing more space for bicycles.”
“A roundabout, it seems that it would slow traffic down if you’re not used to it,” said Dustin Kahia, of San Diego, Calif. “And the street doesn’t look too narrow now.”
But Ohio visitor Jody McMillen said she supports the plan.
“We have roundabouts back home and they work fine,” she said. “I think it’d be a nice addition.”
Allen said that eventually, the city will extend the widening a mile north to Garden of the Gods Road, and that there are no plans presently to extend the project a mile south to Colorado Avenue.
Under the widening plan, traffic will continue to travel in one lane in each direction, but the corridor will expand from 24 feet to 37 feet and include wide shoulders to allow emergency traffic to pull over and provide additional space for bicyclists.
“We’d consider adding a lane in each direction if there would be more traffic, but our research shows only a small traffic increase in the future,” Allen said.
The most important aspect of the plan, she said, is to provide a safe evacuation route for neighbors during a wildfire or similar emergency.
“After the (2012) Waldo Canyon Fire, we felt we needed to do that,” Allen said.
Drivers have long complained that the stretch of road is too narrow, has poor drainage and crumbling asphalt, and not enough space for cyclists.
The city obtained an $8 million federal grant to pay for the project, which starts in the summer of 2020 and is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2022.
