Construction on Boulder’s first-ever fully protected intersection and underpass project at 30th Street and Colorado Avenue is nearing completion, according to a city news release.
The busy intersection has been a prime location for crashes in the city, the release stated. It’s in the process of being converted to a protected intersection, which is designed to physically separate vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and others passing through the intersection while improving travelers’ ability to see each other.
Work began on the project in early 2021 and was originally supposed to finish in the fall of 2022, but was delayed.
Although two new bike and pedestrian underpasses are still underway, and the northwest corner of the intersection still needs minor work, the city hopes the project will be finished in the coming weeks and plans to host a project celebration and ribbon cutting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 3.
“We’re excited to announce the long-awaited opening of the intersection to support safer and more comfortable transportation,” Transportation and Mobility Capital Projects Manager Gerrit Slatter stated in the release. “As we complete the finishing touches, we invite our community to join us with our partners in celebrating this significant achievement.”
The project celebration will begin with an organized bike ride and walking tour at 11:30 a.m. leaving from Scott Carpenter Park, 1505 30th St., and ending at the celebration location at the northeast corner of 30th Street and Colorado Avenue. Starting at noon, there will be a ribbon cutting and remarks from city council members, city staff, the Transportation Advisory Board and the University of Colorado Boulder.
The project received funding and partnership from CU Boulder and federal Transportation Improvement Program funds. Readers can find more information on the project at bit.ly/3RoXSmL and on the celebration at bit.ly/3PDqqaP. The city has also provided an instructional video on how to use the protected intersection at bit.ly/3PCHmhC.
