Dear Editor,

I read Omayra Acevedo’s report on the end of construction on Highway 7 in the St. Vrain Canyon. While our citizens are happy about the end of the year-long canyon closures and construction, many are alarmed at the final phase of this project: installing gates on the highway with the purpose of closing the canyon. Concern for safety is cited as the reason, and the gates will be closed if there is a problem in the canyon, but many fear it is simply a way to cut CDOT expenses. Snow removal for Highway 7 is done from Lyons and the Lyons snow crew is also responsible for Highway 36 from Lyons to Estes, which has a higher priority. The gates will make it easy for CDOT to abandon Highway 7 to concentrate on 36.

During the year of construction people in the Allenspark/Raymond/Riverside areas have gotten used to the alternative routes through Estes, Ned, or Ward. Many have traversed those roads in the middle of the night because they work shifts in the Valley. Coming to a closed and locked gate in the middle of the night in a storm will not only be unexpected but will force them far out of their way to get home.

While Boulder Canyon and 36 to Estes may be maintained in a heavy snow, the final stretches for our area are Highway 7 from Estes and Highway 72 from Ned. Highway 72 is serviced by the Nederland crew and they are also responsible for Boulder Canyon, a higher priority. Over the years I have seen snow service on 72 decline, often with a wide path from Ned to Ward, and not a single pass from Ward to 7. The stretch from Estes to Allenspark is also neglected in heavy snows to service 36. With these being the alternatives CDOT will be putting people in danger instead of protecting them.

Other concerns are:

There are houses within the stretch of the proposed closed highway. What do those people do if the gates are closed?

The sites of the gates, especially the upper one, have poor turn-arounds for vehicles. Large trucks will have a hard time turning around in a snowstorm.

The stretch of Highway 7 from the intersection of 7 and 72 is maintained by the Lyons crew. Would the upper stretch, the main road to Riverside, Conifer Hill, and many other houses, be maintained by the Ned or Estes crews in the event of a storm? And how will the CDOT plows turn around at the upper gate?

Closing the gates will be a trick for CDOT to make sure there are no cars trapped between gates when the gates close.

All in all, using closure gates in our canyons is a poor idea. Or is this just the beginning? Will gates soon be installed in Boulder Canyon? Coal Creek Canyon below Wondervu? Highways 36 and 34 to Estes?

I would hope that this idea will be abandoned and the gates not placed as planned. Temporary closures have been accomplished for decades with barricades and trucks. Don’t put our people in danger by blocking their way home in a snowstorm.

Gene Mackey

Allenspark