Elbert county residents who travel County Road 194 say it’s a
disaster just waiting to happen and they’ve begun to make their
voices heard.
The only problem is figuring out where to take their concerns
about the once-remote road that is split down the middle between
Elbert County and Arapahoe County.
Known as County Road 194 in Elbert County and County Road 50 in
Arapahoe County, the road connects beyond Kiowa-Bennett Road on the
east end to Smoky Hill Road on the west end.
It’s the roller coaster ride in between that has become the
subject of much discussion between residents concerned for their
safety and two counties, which seem to be unable to come to an
agreement about who should foot the bill for improvements and
maintenance.
Maintenance is an issue on the road, with heavy construction
traffic contributing in part to the soft shoulders and dangerous
passing zones. That is according to Elbert County residents such as
Debbie Messmore, who moved to Foxwood Estates last summer and has
watched the treacherous stretch disintegrate since she began
driving the distance.
“I don’t think anyone can grade it enough to keep up with the
amount of traffic and the type of traffic that’s out there,”
Messmore said. “There is a lot of construction traffic, and the
shoulders of the road are so soft that the heavy trucks are
terrified to get into it so they drive down the middle which forces
everybody else off the road. If you get too close to the shoulder
it’s like quick sand it almost sucks you off the shoulder and you
end up in the ditch.”
Arapahoe County collects the highway users tax funds on the road
and has maintained the road for years. Just last week, however,
Arapahoe County commissioners passed a resolution to grant a
portion of the funds to the county of Elbert and are asking Elbert
County to pitch in.
“As I understand it, it is going to remove Arapahoe county
maintenance on the southern half of that county road so that in
future years the portions of the road in Elbert will be claimed by
Elbert and the portion of the road in Arapahoe will be claimed by
Arapahoe,” said Aaron Rhodes, HUTF coordinator for the Colorado
Department of Transportation. “Elbert County will be responsible
for the southern half of the road and Arapahoe will be responsible
for the northern half.”
Elbert County will see an increase in traffic there with three
major developments approved for construction in the last two years,
Messmore said.
Elkhorn Ranch will have 252 homes when completed, Eagle View
will add 334 homes and is presently planned for two direct access
roads onto County Road 194, and Sterling Crossing with 113 homes
and 26 acres commercial.
Messmore and others like her want the road paved to make is safe
to drive. The cost of paving, necessary grading improvements and
ongoing maintenance is the subject of much discussion between the
two counties.
“As you start tearing down the list all that adds costs to the
project,” said Jim Penkenin, Arapahoe County public works. “I’m not
hearing either board saying they don’t want to see some improvement
out there, it’s a matter of how to address it and what their pocket
book can afford. Those are some of the bigger issues they are
trying to sort that out. Our board has been up front and we need an
equitable solution.”
Elbert County road and bridge foreman Rick Pettit referred all
questions to the attorney for the Elbert board of county
commissioners, Mark Scheffel. Scheffel did not return phone calls.
Messmore said the dialogue can only go on so long before it’s too
late. Her research reflects a 250 percent increase in accidents
reported along County Road 194 between 2004 and 2005.
“Part of our biggest frustration is no one will commit to
anything, they give us bits and pieces,” she said. “No one will
give us assurances, no one will tell us where the money is or when
it’s going to happen. I have three little kids I drive on that road
and it’s just dangerous.
“All of these homes are paying property taxes the county didn’t
have before,” Messmore continued. “They need to find a little bit
of that money to pave the road and keep it safe. You’re going to
have income for the life of these homes. Make it safe enough for
the families to drive to them.”
For more information and history about County Road 194, visit
the community Web site www.pave-the-road.org.
Contact Rhonda Moore at rmoore@ccnewspapers.net.
(Insert Deb Stafford announcement here for her 3/11 meeting at
the Carlson building)