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Traffic changes coming to College Drive and Second Avenue

Three-lane vehicle traffic, two bike lanes planned
This is an early rendering of a two-hotel complex that may be built on East Second Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. This construction project will change how traffic flows at the intersection of East Second Avenue and College Drive. A traffic light is proposed to help control traffic. Bicycle lanes are also proposed along College Drive.

Big changes are planned for traffic flow along College Drive and East Second Avenue.

The city plans a traffic light at the intersection, new traffic patterns for both streets and a new parking layout, city staff members said Monday at Ska Brewing Co.

A traffic study showed that when a new hotel is built on East Second Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets traffic changes will cause the intersection fail without a light, said Amber Blake, Durango's director of transportation and sustainability. So, the city expects to build the light in 2017.

The development has been cleared to build two hotels, a restaurant and a parking garage. It is expected to open in 2018, developer Scott McCallister said.

To slow traffic down and make room for bike lanes along College Drive between Main Avenue and East Third Avenue, traffic, will be reduced from four lanes to three lanes. One traffic lane would be in place for each direction plus a turning lane.

“There will be some traffic calming,” said Gregg Boysen, the city engineer.

This is a change that could be phased in along College Drive to East Eighth Street and along East Eighth Street to Santa Rita Drive, Blake said.

This change will make room for 6-foot bicycle lanes and 2-foot buffer zones between the bikes and cars on College Drive, Blake said.

It would be the first buffered bike lane in Durango, and it would be designated with painted hash marks.

“It makes the level of comfort for cyclists much greater,” she said.

As a result, about five parking spaces along College Drive will be lost.

In addition, East Second Avenue south of College Drive and Fifth Street between East Second Avenue and Third Avenue are planned to accommodate two-way traffic.

Fifth Street between Main Avenue and East Second Avenue will remain a one-way, Boysen said.

The new two-way areas will be made possible by turning the diagonal parking spaces into parallel spots, and it will improve traffic circulation.

The new parking layout will reduce the overall number of city parking spaces by 36, and it is likely to push some parking into the neighborhood, Blake said.

A neighborhood meeting will be held to discuss the parking problems and solutions with residents, she said.

Hydi Verduzco, an owner of East by Southwest, questioned the need to turn East Second Avenue into a two-way street and to reduce parking.

But she was pleased to discover the coming traffic light.

“I definitely see the need for the signal. ... We've been trying to get this signal for ten years,” she said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

East Second Ave. & College Dr. (PDF)



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