Estes Park Downtown Loop

http://www.estestruth.org

WHAT IS, THE LOOP PROJECT?

In simplest terms, a proposal to route traffic to and from Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) faster and easier using federal funds designated for Federal Land Access Projects (FLAP). In doing so, traffic would become one way through the downtown corridor heading West on 36, to RMNP. Traffic returning from the Park would be forced to go around downtown on a newly constructed one way road from the intersection at Crags/Moraine (where the Donut Haus is currently), to Riverside/Moraine (Dairy Queen). The cost in dollars: $17+ million in Federal and State funds that would pay for the project. The Town of Estes Park wouldn't provide any cash money, but would assume ownership of a segment of highway from CDOT and the related maintainence expenses that go with it. Other costs: the State would use a 'fair process' to acquire private residences and businesses that are in the way of the new road construction and move the traffic to run alongside the river. Yes, the Donut Haus will be having a moving sale if this goes through. And more costs: eliminating the opportunity for every single vehicle that is traveling Eastbound to travel through downtown. It's not an optional bypass, you will not be able to drive though downtown in an Easterly fashion. Business owners are concerned that they will suffer customer visits; visitors are outraged that 'downtown' is the reason they are driving through Estes Park. (Some) locals are beside themselves that now for the entire year we'll be doing counterclockwise loops to navigate through our own community, for the benefit of 'better access to the national park'. Shouldn't the Town Leaders be protecting us from this kind of change to our community? We hope they do.