Dear Action Line,
The medians and shoulders of our roads and highways are awash with rocks, gravel and other unsightly debris. What’s going on, and why can’t local agencies clear up all the detritus? While you’re at it, why has North College near J. Bo’s been unpaved for months now? – Sincerely, Rock and Roll
Dear Rock and Roll,
This week’s column (published every Sunday) is the closest Action Line will get to being able to write about April Fools’ Day. We’re still amused that the municipal elections coincidentally fall on Tuesday, April 1 – imagine the jokes and potential for misinformation.
As a cyclist myself, I’m intimately familiar with the gravel and miscellaneous debris found in the bike lanes and shoulders of area roadways, and this is no laughing matter. Despite the popularity of gravel cycling – the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic has hosted a “gravel” race for several years now – cyclists looking for an off-road adventure would rather tackle Horse Gulch Road or any number of La Plata County roads instead of the tiny pebbles found in the Florida Road bike lane.
We contacted people at the city of Durango roads division to find out if bicycle commuters and spandex-wearing racers alike can get some relief from the bumpy ride.
They divulged that city street sweepers will begin weekly operations on March 31 and will continue through the first week of November, pending weather conditions. The response didn’t include anything about if sweepers prioritize bike lanes and shoulders, but Action Line happened to witness the bike lane on Goeglein Gulch Road getting swept on Tuesday.
Our theory is that the winter and spring months, before street sweepers regularly patrol the pavement, wreak havoc on our desires for clear shoulders. Debris naturally piles up, and sand or other anti-icing agents applied during winter storms may contribute to this.
Yes, Colorado Department of Transportation maintenance crews perform highway sweeping of U.S. and state highways. As temperatures continue to rise and snowstorm threats diminish, drivers may encounter sweeping operations on our highways. A top priority: CDOT will soon schedule the sweeping of U.S. Highway 550 from Durango to Silverton in preparation for the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic to give cyclists a smooth ride.
There's a sweet spot for this sweeping task. Maintenance crews try to anticipate that last snowstorm of the winter season that could require the use of traction materials to improve icy conditions. We don’t want to waste resources (money and man-power) sweeping highways clean of debris when there is the potential of additional snow and the possible need to spread sand/salt on the highway, requiring crews to come back and sweep again.
Readers will also have noticed a lot of gravel and unpatched pavement on the Florida side of North College Drive coming down from the college. This has been there since construction in the area last year.
Luckily, this seems to be on the docket for being fixed.
According to the city, there was work left to be done so it didn’t want to pave the road and then rip it all up again. Repairs on the water infrastructure and sewer system will begin on April 1, and “once all the underground work is complete, crews will begin laying new pavement.”
April will also be an inconvenient month for fans of McDonald’s hamburgers. From April 6 to 15, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will be upgrading its tracks and crossing of College Drive in front of the depot. This will mean that College Drive from Main Avenue to the other side of the train tracks will be closed. You’ll have to go around another direction. We just hope it doesn’t break the ice cream machine. That’s no joke.
Send your best April Fool’s jokes to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail questions to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
