The city of Durango will temporarily close Animas View Drive on Tuesday to install five speed cushions on the road.
Speed cushions serve a similar purpose as speed bumps, but differ in how they affect passenger vehicles versus larger vehicles, such as those used by emergency services or public transportation. Speed cushions feature cutouts that allow wide vehicles, like buses or ambulances, to pass unaffected while slowing down narrower passenger vehicles.
The speed cushions are being installed as a short-term solution to improve safety by slowing vehicles on the narrow road in north Durango. The effort is part of the Animas View Drive Improvements project, which ultimately aims to make long-term safety improvements.
The installation follows several injuries on the road, including a pedestrian fatality in 2023, according to the city’s release.
The speed cushions will remain in place through the fall, after the road’s peak traffic season. Next spring, the city will decide whether to reinstall the cushions based on their effectiveness this summer.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
