December 16, 2016

Green light for Estes’ downtown loop

Bitter division marked plan to ease traffic through tourist town

Estes Park’s town Board of Trustees, staffers and citizens listen on Nov. 30 at the Estes Park Event Center as James Herlyck, Central Federal Lands’ highway division project manager, describes the findings of an environmental assessment of the mountain village’s proposed one-way downtown traffic loop. Dallas Heltzell/for BizWest
By

Estes Park downtown loop mapESTES PARK — In a decision that reflected the often bitter debate that has gripped this mountain tourist village for several years, a sharply divided Estes Park Board of Trustees has voted to go ahead with a controversial $17 million plan to turn parts of three downtown streets into a one-way loop to ease summer traffic congestion and aid visitor access to Rocky Mountain National Park.

The final 4-3 vote on Nov. 30 followed two other 4-3 decisions — one to concur with…

With BizWest since 2012 and in Colorado since 1979, Dallas worked at the Longmont Times-Call, Colorado Springs Gazette, Denver Post and Public News Service. A Missouri native and Mizzou School of Journalism grad, Dallas started as a sports writer and outdoor columnist at the St. Charles (Mo.) Banner-News, then went to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before fleeing the heat and humidity for the Rockies. He especially loves covering our mountain communities.
Categories: Estes Park Print Edition
Sign up for BizWest Daily Alerts
Closing in 8 seconds...