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Editor's note: The following letter was written to the Pitkin County commissioners.
Dear Editor:
I read Wednesday in the local papers that you are concerned about a roadblock of area commuter routes for a five-hour period Aug. 19 for a bike circuit race because it would impact both safety and convenience of residents and motorists. As we all know, if there is an impact regarding traffic anywhere in the valley, there are typically no other alternate routes that work well.
Clearly, this five-hour closure, plus race-preparation time, will impact transportation upvalley, and it is well within your role to ask for more information regarding impacts and planning concerns.
I would invite you to be completely informed and well-involved in the discussions now taking place in Glenwood Springs regarding the traffic impacts around a proposed two-month (minimum) closure of the Grand Avenue Bridge during construction. This significant closure will impact not simply Glenwood Springs but surrounding Roaring Fork Valley transportation significantly, including not simply getting around in Glenwood when Pitkin County residents are here but getting employees, tourists and goods vital to the Aspen economy actually up to Aspen and back. It will impact tourist volume through the entirety of the valley — impacting Aspen as well as Glenwood and points in between.
My hope is that you will become very involved and we will hear your voices regarding the impacts. A group of us seeks to build a comprehensive solution to the transportation issues for Glenwood Springs because we are — whether we like it or not — a transportation hub and crossroads for the entirety of the valley. We see the bridge as one part of this conversation but not the only part.
Since it is critical to all — please, commissioners — actively join the conversations at local, county and state levels, including Colorado Department of Transportation.
Cheryl Cain
Glenwood Springs
I read Wednesday in the local papers that you are concerned about a roadblock of area commuter routes for a five-hour period Aug. 19 for a bike circuit race because it would impact both safety and convenience of residents and motorists. As we all know, if there is an impact regarding traffic anywhere in the valley, there are typically no other alternate routes that work well.
Clearly, this five-hour closure, plus race-preparation time, will impact transportation upvalley, and it is well within your role to ask for more information regarding impacts and planning concerns.
I would invite you to be completely informed and well-involved in the discussions now taking place in Glenwood Springs regarding the traffic impacts around a proposed two-month (minimum) closure of the Grand Avenue Bridge during construction. This significant closure will impact not simply Glenwood Springs but surrounding Roaring Fork Valley transportation significantly, including not simply getting around in Glenwood when Pitkin County residents are here but getting employees, tourists and goods vital to the Aspen economy actually up to Aspen and back. It will impact tourist volume through the entirety of the valley — impacting Aspen as well as Glenwood and points in between.
My hope is that you will become very involved and we will hear your voices regarding the impacts. A group of us seeks to build a comprehensive solution to the transportation issues for Glenwood Springs because we are — whether we like it or not — a transportation hub and crossroads for the entirety of the valley. We see the bridge as one part of this conversation but not the only part.
Since it is critical to all — please, commissioners — actively join the conversations at local, county and state levels, including Colorado Department of Transportation.
Cheryl Cain
Glenwood Springs
