Barbara Lawlor, Boulder County.  With steep switchbacks and narrow lanes, Fourmile Canyon Road is dangerous for bicyclists who enjoy the trip to Gold Hill. It is also dangerous for the vehicles who often have to swerve toward the middle of the road to avoid collisions with bicyclists.

The Boulder County Transportation Department has developed designs for permanent repairs and flood-related restoration of Fourmile Creek as well as creating bike lanes at dangerous sections of the road. But residents and most bicyclists say that can live with the danger and they don’t want the landscape of the canyon changed by blasting.

On Tuesday, the county held an open house to address comments that have been sent in since the June 16th open house. It was held in the community room at Alfalfas in Boulder. The meeting focused on the proposed roadway alignment and environmental impacts of the designs and construction in the 1.4 mile stretch of lower Fourmile Canyon, beginning one mile from Boulder Canyon to the Salina Junction.

Since June, some Fourmile residents have opposed the four-foot wide shoulder in the uphill lane of the two construction zones, while others have approved of it. Residents are concerned that the plans which include the excavation of dirt and rock will alter the canyon landscape.

BCT engineers have come up with design alternatives that could reduce the earth removal in the canyon. But the plans for an uphill shoulder infrastructure is necessary.

“Our goal is to rebuild this flood-affected road in a manner that makes travel safer for all uses, is more resilient to future flooding, retains the scenic and historic values of the canyon and contributes to the restoration of the watershed. People care deeply about this beautiful canyon and we will do everything we can to make sure it stays the special place it has always been,” said George Gerstle, Transportation Director for Boulder County. “This is an optimal time to make the canyon more resilient while also making it safer for motorists and cyclists.”

Residents who are opposed to the plans have formed the community organization, Save4MileCanyon.org in an effort to stop the excavation, which they say will cost $14.2 million for 1.5 miles of road which, they say, were not damaged by the 2013 Flood.

Many residents are concerned that this realignment is just the beginning of a long-term plan to redevelop Fourmile Canyon and Fourmile Canyon Drive. The plans to widen the road include a four-foot up and one foot down bicycle lane, with 30’ to 45’ drainage which would include the blasting, bolting, cementing and chaining of rock walls.

Some private property will be condemned and wildlife habitat and historic mining history will be destroyed writes one citizen in a letter to the BCT. “In addition, the BCTD claims it needs to destroy significant portions of Fourmile Canyon geology under the guise of permanently mitigating future potential flood damage to this roadway area. The potential for a catastrophic flood occurring in any given year over a 100-year period os 0.01 percent.”

Friends of Fourmile Canyon say the rocky areas are stable and that blasting will remove tens of thousands of yards of material. There is no reason to expect an increase in vehicle traffic and the road has served community needs for about 100 years at pre-flood width.

On July 18th, the Friends of Fourmile Canyon set up a water station at the intersection of Poorman Road and Fourmile and say that 99 percent of the people they talked to, bicyclists and runners, said they love the canyon the way it is, that there is inherent risk, but no need for a shoulder or cycling lane.

Comment period has been extended until July 31, 2015 Send comments to Andrew Barth: communications at abarth@bouldercounty.org

Dan DeLange: Project Mgr. and Engeer at ddelange@bouldercounty.org and George Gerstle, Director at ggerstle@bouldercounty.org.