El Paso County commissioners approve $2 million in upgrades for two busy intersections in Security-Widefield

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Increased safety for drivers and pedestrians, as well as reduced street flooding, are objectives of a project approved for the Security-Widefield community southeast of Colorado Springs.

County commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to approve spending around $2 million to improve two busy intersections -- at Main Street and Security Boulevard, and where Security meets Widefield Boulevard at Fontaine Boulevard.

Commissioners said that both intersections have outdated traffic signals, signal equipment, and pedestrian corridors that do not meet federal standards for disability access; those shortfalls reduce roadway capacity, intersection safety, and increase pedestrian exposure.

"We're always listening to the public and asking for feedback: How can we improve our areas? What can be done to help improve your areas?" said Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez. "We're always listening to that. But over the last several years, that feedback had already come to us."

The project includes repaving Fontaine and Widefield boulevards near those intersections for smoother driving and better stormwater drainage in an area notorious for flooding during heavy rainstorms.

Commissioners said that most of the money comes from revenue generated by the Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority's one-cent sales tax.

Work on improving sidewalks, curbs, gutters and repaving is expected to start this fall, with signal upgrades scheduled to begin next spring.

"I'm not too sure about the flooding in this area, but I know the (intersection) off Main Street floods pretty good when it rains," said Ali Roberts, a Security-Widefield resident. "So I avoid that area when it rains."

Another resident, Holly Jackson, said that she was glad to learn of the project after struggling at times to get through one of the intersections with her newborn son, Giovanni.

"I'd like to see that (project) especially because it'll make it easier for people in wheelchairs, and me with a stroller, as well," she said. "Just to make it easier, more accessible."

Tuesday's approval of the project comes only a few weeks after county officials revealed plans to repair the main drainage channel through the community, and to start a study to assess the area's drainage needs.

"I'm looking forward to the drainage channel being fixed," said Shawn Cunningham, whose backyard butts against it. "It's causing problems for me. A tree growing in it, fell on my fence and left a lot of dead limbs and branches that I'll have to take care of."

But he's also glad to see the intersection upgrades coming.

"This intersection (Fontaine) floods a block down, into the street, into my yard and into my basement," he said. "I have to use a squeegee to push the water out and keep it out of my garage. I've had to pay for damage out of my own pocket. So any improvement will be a big help."

In other business Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved changing the county's strategic plan to allow updates annually instead of every five years.

"The COVID-19 pandemic showed us we needed to do that," said board chairman Stan VanderWerf. "It changed our budget and finances and operations within a few months, and we have to be able to adjust quickly in case of unforeseen circumstances."

The new version of the plan will focus primarily on keeping taxes low, keeping the quality of public service high and being more transparent and accountable to residents; one objective is to finish a complete evaluation of roads, stormwater infrastructure, county vehicles and facilities, and parks by the end of 2023.

The county also is dealing with a high number of job vacancies -- around 640.

"Most of those are in human services and public works," said Bret Waters, county administrator. "We've had a hard time filling those openings. We're not getting the applications we used to. The vacancies in those two departments are challenging jobs. We may need to look at increasing our compensation for some of them, and making sure that our employees feel valued and appreciated."

Waters said that so far, the number of vacancies isn't affecting essential services.

Commissioners also learned that the recently-completed county fair exceeded its attendance estimate of 25,000, and generated $308,000 in revenue.