Orange traffic barrels are an ‘experiment’ at accident-prone intersection in Colorado Springs

During its short existence, the intersection near Cimarron and 8th Street has built a reputation for being one of the most dangerous in the city and the numbers prove it.

Traffic engineers say wrecks happen once or twice a week and police confirm there were at least five in November alone.

“Because everyone is always trying to make that light,” driver Wayne Sandoval said. “And I’ve actually seen one accident myself.”

Now, the City of Colorado Springs tells KRDO NewsChannel 13, CDOT and the city have put up orange traffic barrels to cut down one of the westbound left turn lanes to see how it impacts traffic at the intersection.

“You know that probably would make it a little bit safer. I don’t know that there’s that much traffic that would warrant a two-lane turn there,” driver Ken Thomas said.

The city said they’re not sure how long they and CDOT are planning on keeping the barrels in place, but said they’ll be there as an experiment for the time being.