Residents Glad Something Is Being Done About Dangerous Highway 285
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The Colorado Department of Transportation has a new solution to a dangerous stretch of Highway 285, the site of many crashes, including two this past weekend.
Concrete barriers will be installed at Shaffer's Crossing just outside Conifer.
Residents have been raising concern for a while, whether by making comments on community forums or leaving signs warning drivers to slow down. It's clear they're ready for change.
"It's actually pretty scary with this speed," said Brandy Lanphear, who lives in the area.
In just two days, two different accidents occurred on the same stretch of Highway 285.
On Saturday, two people on a motorcycle were killed after they collided with an SUV that crossed the double yellow lines. On Sunday there was another crash near Shaffer's Crossing.
"I know over the last few years I've heard a lot of complaints, even up the road at the gas station, that there just seems to be a lot of fatalities during the year," said Lanphear.
For years CDOT has been making changes to the intersection trying to make it safer. In 2011 they added an interchange.
Still, CDOT spokesperson Amy Ford said drivers struggle to navigate the turn and other measures were added.
"We did things like add rumble strips in the area; we've added the delineators, the flexible delineators; we've widened the shoulder there," Ford said.
After months of planning, CDOT has decided to add 700 feet of concrete barrier to keep drivers from crossing into oncoming traffic.
However, Ford said even that won't fix everything, as "you have people coming around the bend, they maybe have high speeds and they maybe hit a situation that they're not prepared for and there's a barrier there that could also cause some additional problems."
Lanphear said with a daughter about to turn 16 and get behind the wheel, she's happy something is being done.
"I think it's great. Anything that can help any kind of slow down here would be great," she said.
CDOT said the barriers will be put in place later rather than sooner because they can cause issues with snow removal and problems for wildlife, which they needed to address before moving forward.
Crews are expected to start the project within a few weeks.
