WCR 5 Improvements

As a reminder, this project started in the summer of 2021 with utility work in and around the roadway. The next six phases of work will ultimately increase safety for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists and will improve traffic flow through the area.

Included in the plans for the WCR 5 Improvement Project is to:

Widen WCR 5 along the whole corridor
Extend turn lanes where possible
Add bike lanes along both sides of the roadway
Extend sidewalks for added pedestrian options
Add a traffic signal at WCR 5 and Flora View (north entrance to Soaring Heights)

This project is planned to help facilitate better traffic flow and create a safer pedestrian and bicyclist environment. The benefits to completing this project are many, but the Town does understand that the construction period for this project will create significant changes for parents, students, teachers, and community members who regularly commute through this area.

To mitigate impacts as much as possible, the Town of Erie worked closely with St. Vrain Valley School District, to work around major events such as graduation, and with the Front Range Landfill to lessen large truck traffic through the area as much as possible during construction.

The roadway is completely open as of mid-August 2022.

Beginning Monday, Jan., 3 there will be a speed limit change coming to WCR 5 between Erie Parkway and WCR 10. The Town recently completed an evaluation of appropriate speed limits for this area and results of the evaluation have determined that the current 45 mph speed limit should be reduced to 35 mph.

The study was conducted based on conversations with the Board of Trustees during the Aug., 5 2022 meeting regarding all updates and improvements related to the WCR 5 project.

Also remember that speeds are even lower through School Zone areas during peak commuting times. Erie PD will be helping out with education and awareness of the new speed limit with extra officer presence during school drop-off and pick-up during the week of Jan. 9, 2023.

For additional information about this project, contact Tyler Burhenn at tburhenn@erieco.gov.

FAQs

Why don’t you complete the work while leaving a single lane open in both directions?

We considered this option as a way to maintain traffic flow through WCR 5 during the work. After much discussion with the contractor, EPD, and the school districts we found that this option was not the best choice for two main reasons:

Safety: The major equipment needed for this construction, paired with high traffic during school hours, and the number of pedestrians (construction workers and students/parents/teachers) created a hazardous situation. Fully closing the road to all traffic in phases actually creates a much safer construction zone, limiting the number of interactions between the general public and construction equipment/work.
Timing: If we did the project while leaving open lanes, it would essentially extend the timeline for the project by another three to four months. Contending with commuting hours and less overall workspace would slow the progress down enough to substantially lengthen the time the road is under construction.

Why didn’t you wait to start this project until the summer, after school?

This project timeline is already condensed at tightly as it could feasibly be while still giving allowances for possible weather or supply delays. There is logistically no way the project could be completed during the summer break.

This means our project team, along with SVVSD, and EPD discussed the best possible timing to either coincide with the end of a school year, or the beginning of the next. Based on the most efficient phasing of the project, it made the most sense and caused the least negative impacts to begin the project begore the end of the school year.

Who can I contact if I have a question or concern with this project?

There are two main contacts to consider based on your specific issue:

If you have questions about the elements of the planned project (bicycle lanes, sidewalks, streetlight, etc.) please contact Town staff at construction@erieco.gov.
If you have questions or concerns about the work happening on the ground (detour signs, noise, construction equipment, etc.) please contact the contractor, John Murnan, at jmurnan@ihcscott.com or 720-490-7417.

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