In a pocket of unincorporated Douglas County, a gate is
upsetting plenty of people. In spring 2004, residents of the
Retreat and Gleneagles Village – both off Cresthill Lane north of
Highlands Ranch High School – and surrounding neighborhoods once
drove along Redwing to get to Colorado Boulevard.
In August and October 2002, Redwing Avenue had 3,480 vehicles
travel along the street each day, according to the original study
by Carter Burgess engineering firm released in March
2003.
Traffic counts climbed high, too high for a residential street
according to Douglas County’s traffic engineers. So Redwing Avenue
residents requested something to keep their street safe – a
gate.
Now, the neighbors on Aberdeen Circle and beyond travel south on
Cresthill, alongside children on bikes and those walking to the
middle school. Redwing residents are increasing traffic on
Colorado, because they have been cut off from a direct neighborhood
route to the schools.
Residents from both sides of the gate met publicly at Eastridge
recreation center to air grievances and offer potential
solutions.
A working group formed out of the occasionally contentious
meeting April 29.
They will meet and help develop options for traffic in the
area.
Some options presented at the meeting were new roads over to
Colorado Boulevard.
County engineers offered either a Gleneagles Village Parkway
extension or a road from Shadow Canyon to remedy the situation,
along with options including a timed entrance for the gate, peak
hours only closure for the gate, making Redwing a one-way street,
or combining several one way streets to control traffic numbers and
speed.
Opponents of the gate told tales of emergency care not making it
to their home in time to save a family member, while proponents
talked about the safety their children have with far less traffic
at high speeds.
One resident said people on both sides needed to get together
and work on a solution that makes the most people partially
happy.
Opponents questioned the validity of traffic counts from the
original study.
No decisions will be made until after the committee develops
some options.
303-566-4107 | rlydick@ccnewspapers.com