May 2021 Windsor Matters Newsletter

THE OFFICIAL TOWN OF WINDSOR NEWSLETTER

WINDSOR MATTERS MAY 2021

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Busy Road Construction Season Expected Detours. Congestion. Orange cones. Noise. Dirt. Slow speeds.

The list goes on.

ways to bundle projects so they don't have to close the same road multiple times.

In Windsor, we’re ramping up for one of the busiest road construction seasons we’ve experienced. The goal of this newsletter is to ensure residents: 1) understand the considerations that help strategize roadway projects; and 2) know when, where and what to expect with this year’s planned roadway improvement projects.

Annual maintenance projects such as the curb and gutter replacement happening on 15th Street this summer help extend the life of a roadway so the town can avoid costlier and more time-consuming road replacements in the future.

These projects vary in nature and are aimed at saving taxpayer dollars in an effort to provide a safe, reliable roadway.

Before any major roadway project breaks ground, it goes through a planning process. During the planning stage, town staff seek input from residents. In 2019, the town created its first-ever Transportation Master Plan, a document that relied on staff, consultants, and the community to, pardon the pun, provide a road map for projects. Staff collect data to analyze each improvement, looking at everything from accidents to vehicular traffic counts to pedestrian and bicycle movements.

Once improvements are identified, the town works on logistics and funding. Town engineers research the physical environment and seek

Drivers are reminded to always use caution when traveling in a work zone. Subscribe to receive Windsor Traffic Alerts via text or email at windsorgov.com/NotifyMe. Development-driven projects anticipate the demand they put on a roadway. These projects are partnerships with developers. An example of this type of project is the pedestrian bridge that’s being installed across 7th Street near Hilltop Drive. The bridge will provide a safe pedestrian crossing and

add trail connectivity from several subdivisions in south Windsor to the nearby trail system. Development fees offset the cost of these projects.

In general, the majority of these projects include lane widening and turn lane improvements.

Projects happening on stateowned highways require approval and funding outside of the town’s jurisdiction. This summer, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has several projects happening in Windsor.

One project is the asphalt overlay planned for Highway 257 / North 7th Street between Main St. and the railroad tracks to the north.

This area is known for its pocked pavement and potholes.

As part of this project the town is working with CDOT to incorporate buffered bike lanes. To be efficient, the town bundled this project with an impending waterline replacement project, curb and gutter work, and a pedestrian crossing improvement at the Birch Street intersection. By working with CDOT, the town is able to work on several improvements in one summer.

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This keeps projects from taking several years and redundant closures to complete. It’s also a more efficient way to use taxpayer funds.

Timing is also important. In Windsor, we see more traffic on Main Street when school is in session.

That’s why the ancillary work—the type of work that does not require

LOOKING

major closures—along Highway 257 / North 7th Street is happening now and why closures related to the waterline replacement and asphalt overlay—two projects that need to happen on the same road and will cause a traffic disruption—will wait until summer.

Town staff will continue to work toward solving problems, keeping Windsor moving forward, and

strategically preparing for the growth that has hit this quadrant of the state.

And while there’s not enough room in this newsletter to explain all of the considerations that inform roadway improvements, these were some of the most important.

In 2022, CDOT plans major repair work for Highway 257 between Walnut Street and Eastman Park Drive, including repaving the nearly 1-mile stretch of road.

FORWARD

TRAILS AS TRANSPORTATION

A Look at 2021 Trail Improvements A well-built trail system provides important connectivity options for those seeking to travel around Windsor on bike or foot. There are several projects planned for this summer that improve our townwide connections.

Additional Improvements Concrete replacements are scheduled in Water Valley and on the #2 Ditch Trail with 1-2 day closures planned. The #2 Ditch Trail connection on 17th Street will also be completed.

7th St. Bikeway Buffered bike lanes on 7th St. will provide connectivity between the Poudre River Trail at Eastman Park to Windsor’s downtown and the lake.

Windsor Lake

Kyger Reservoir

Colorado Blvd. Trail & Bridge This project connects the Kyger Trail to the existing Poudre River trailhead located at Colorado Blvd. A new pedestrian bridge will be placed over the river, completing the Poudre-Kyger 4-mile trail loop.

Poudre Trail Temporary Bypass Eastman Park

View a map of existing trails at windsorgov.com/Maps.

There is trail construction happening on the Poudre River Trail west of the Treasure Island Demonstration Garden. Use the soft surface maintenance road as a detour.

2021 WINDSOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS In addition to the following list, there are numerous roadway improvement, roadway seal, and concrete replacement projects happening around Windsor. Timelines are subject to change.

Major Impact

Moderate Impact

Minor Impact

Hwy 392 Widening & Intersection Improvements at LCR 5

March - June

Widening of Hwy 392 between Westgate Dr. and Highland Meadows Pkwy, along with intersection improvements at LCR 5.

LCR 5 Widening - Fossil Creek

April - June

Widening of LCR 5 between LCR 34C and LCR 32E. Improvements include additional southbound lane.

New Liberty Rd. Widening (through Raindance)

June - October

Railroad Crossing Improvement (WCR 17)

May - October

Closing WCR 17 for 3-5 days between Crossroads Blvd. and Hwy 34. The town has a timeframe for the project but the railroad determines the final dates.

Intersection Improvements at Hwy 392 & Colorado Blvd.

June - August

7th St. Multimodal Interim Improvements

July - August

Implements multimodal improvements on 7th Street from #2 Ditch Trail to the Poudre River Trail, including: improved crossings, designated bike lane and improved connection to the Poudre River Trail.

Eastbound Right Turn Lane at corner of Hwy 392 & Hwy 257

July - August

Traffic Signal Installation at Crossroads Blvd. & New Liberty Rd.

August - October

North 7th St. Improvements

April - July

Resurfacing of the existing asphalt between Main St. and the railroad tracks to the north, adding buffered bike lanes and working on a waterline replacement project.

Colorado Blvd. Trail & Pedestrian Bridge (between Hwy 392 & River)

May - July

Walnut St. Bikeway Improvements

July - August

Implementing bicycle lane and safety improvements along Walnut St. from Hwy 257 to 15th St. 7th St. Pedestrian Bridge

July - August

The Town is partnering with Poudre Tech and the Raindance Metro District to design and build a pedestrian bridge over 7th St. near Hilltop Dr. The bridge will help with regional trail connectivity.

New Liberty Rd. Drainage Improvements (7th St. to Hilltop Dr.)

September - December

For a complete list of current and upcoming roadway improvement projects, visit windsorgov.com/ProjectConnect.

LIFE CYCLE of a Road Understanding the

Roads are a lot like houses.

Maintain them over time, they last longer and repairs cost less than if you let needed repairs go untouched. With a house, fix a roof at the first sign of a leak, more costly repairs can be avoided. The same is true with roadways. If we service a road when it’s in fairly good condition, it will last longer and cost less over its lifetime.

Over time deterioration starts to happen. Cracks begin to appear, potholes form and in the long run, if the Town of Windsor ignored these issues, the lack of road maintenance could lead to increased costs, time, and it could hinder roadway safety.

Whether it’s filling potholes, sealing cracks, overlaying asphalt, or restriping lines, staff constantly assess roads for improvements.

Maintaining over 260 center lane miles takes a lot of work and requires patience and careful driving for commuters and residents alike.

Thank you, Windsor, for minding roadwork and following posted speed limits in work zones.

Crack Seal Process used to fill in gaps and cracks in a road. This type of preventative maintenance can be repeated as needed.

Roadway Seal Process used to cover the street with a thin layer of oil and rocks to seal small cracks and exposed rock within the pavement.

Pothole Repair If left untreated, a pothole will get larger which could accelerate the deterioration of the road around it. Each year, Windsor’s Streets Division identifies and repairs potholes as needed.

Lane Stripes Weather and age can impact how often a road needs to be striped.

Because stripes guide traffic patterns, it is an important factor in the life and safety of a roadway.

Curb & Gutter Repair Curbs and gutters along the side of a road help guide rain and snow melt off the road. These are often repaired when they present a trip hazard, if there are drainage issues, or if fractures are present.

Asphalt Overlay During this process, the top few inches of the road are removed and replaced with new asphalt. Aside from total road replacement, this repair is among the most impactful to traffic, but is more cost efficient than total road replacement.

Road Replacement When a road has met the end of its useful life—meaning other repairs are no longer an option—the road must be replaced. This is costly work that involves everything from utility infrastructure, subgrade, concrete and asphalt. Doing routine maintenance help roads last longer, saving money in the long run.