There’s no statute of limitations on the will of the people, and it’s well past time that the Fort Collins City Council moved forward with the Timberline Road extension, approved by voters in March 1989.
The extension from Prospect Road to Mulberry Street or farther northeast to Summit View Drive is critical to relieve traffic congestion on Lemay Avenue, Summit View and other major arterials.
Imagine Lemay with merely 16,400 cars on an average day, compared with 21,200 today. Or Summit View with 300 fewer cars every day than presently travel its route. Those are just some of the time savings that will be had if Timberline Road follows its natural course north.
Timberline will save time for thousands of travelers, including many businesses that waste long minutes fighting traffic because they can’t take it north of Prospect. Timberline is a project that should have begun long ago.
Some argue that environmental concerns should prevent Timberline’s extension. But the route can be adjusted to protect any wetlands deemed worthy.
The danger is that the City Council will wait too long, that the extension will be put to another vote and that lawsuits will ensue. Such talk is already being bandied about.
Such a divisive confrontation can be skirted, however, if the city simply carries out the will of the people as evidenced by the 1989 vote.
Build Timberline now.