- Services A-Z
- A-Z List
- Building Permits
- Business and Financial
- Children and Youth
- Courts and Justice
- Elections
- Emergency
- Environment and Natural Resources
- Health
- Jobs
- Leisure
- Licenses
- Motor Vehicles
- Planning, Zoning and Land Use
- Policies
- Property and Taxes
- Public Assistance
- Public Information
- Public Safety
- Senior Citizens
- Transportation
- Volunteering
- Departments
- Public Records
- News & Info
- Jobs
- Business
- About
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on a link below to quickly go to your answer:
- Why is this project taking place?
The Owl Canyon corridor (generally the connection between the I-25 / Larimer County Road 70 interchange and the US 287 / Larimer County Road 72 intersection) is the most heavily traveled roadway connection from north of the Fort Collins urban area to the State of Wyoming. Several miles of roadway are non-paved despite volumes (including both cars and trucks) that far exceed the County's paving threshold. With the recognition that paving and other improvements will eventually take place, County staff will complete this corridor project to identify roadway alignments, function and safety improvement needs, and potential construction phasing so that as funding becomes available, area improvements can be appropriately planned, coordinated, designed and constructed.
- How is this project different from all the previous studies?
A number of previous studies have been completed in the past 30 years by other entities. This includes the most recent study completed in 2001 by the City of Fort Collins entitled: "Northern Colorado Truck Mobility / SH 14 Relocation Study". These studies generally focused on locating a "truck bypass" for the City of Fort Collins, and typically sought to identify (from a broad planning level) a 'bypass' route somewhere between Vine Drive in Fort Collins and Larimer County Road 80. None of these planning studies resulted in a consensus of alignment, approval by Larimer County, or identification/design of specific improvements.
Larimer County's Owl Canyon Corridor Project is NOT a truck bypass study or a continuation of any previous effort. Rather, it is a local entity corridor plan and conceptual design project intended to identify a specific alignment, necessary improvements to paving, function, and safety, and construction phasing to accommodate both the existing and likely future traffic using these County Roads. We recognize that both car and truck traffic currently utilize the corridor, many which have local origins and destinations, and some that utilize the corridor as a regional connection. Regardless, the traffic exists, and this project will provide the means to plan accordingly.
- How long will the planning and conceptual design project take?
The project will begin in the Fall of 2007, and is expected to take about 12-18 months.
- Does the public have input or influence in this process?
Absolutely. We look forward to working with area residents and other interested parties to think through and discuss the interests, issues and constraints. We also very much would like to gather input from the public as we develop alignment alternatives.
- How can I provide input?
Contact the project staff via phone, fax, email, or through this website. There will also be opportunities for comment at any open house, project meetings, or presentations.
- When will something be built?
There are no currently scheduled construction projects, and no currently allocated funding for any future projects in the corridor. Therefore, there is no schedule for any improvements to be constructed.
However, the County recognizes that improvements will need to be made at some point in the future (whether through a county-funded capital design project or via development requirements), and completion of this corridor project will allow for a planned and logical implementation of those improvements.
- How large (wide) will this road be?
Based upon existing and likely future traffic volumes, the roadway is anticipated to have two travel lanes (one in each direction), generous roadway shoulders, roadside ditches (or swales) for drainage, and auxiliary turn lanes at the intersections. The ultimate roadway is NOT anticipated to be a four-lane facility.
- Will an improved roadway increase traffic?
It is quite typical that when a roadway is improved (such as paving, intersection improvements, or widened shoulders), it becomes a more desirable travel way for the public. The intent of this project is to address existing deficiencies and plan for the future. Planning for the future includes accommodating anticipated traffic volume growth, which occurs on almost every roadway.
- What alignments are being considered?
The corridor connection to I-25 occurs at Larimer County Road 70. The corridor connection to US 287 occurs at Larimer County Road 72. Therefore, alignments under consideration will include CR 70, CR 72, and some sort of connection between the two, anticipated to be somewhere between LCR 21 and LCR 7.
Information on the three alignment options being carried forward for further analysis will be posted following the July 2nd Open House.
- How will a preferred alignment be chosen?
The preferred alignment will be chosen through an iterative selection process that considers a number of criteria. This includes consideration for items such as effectiveness in achieving need, system connectivity, safety, cost, constructability and phasing options, adjacent impacts, environmental, etc. Information on the process of evaluating alternatives and determining a preferred alignment will be posted on the website and shared with the public through newsletters and open houses.
- How is this project related to the proposed Glade Reservoir re-alignment of US 287?
Eventual improvements to the Owl Canyon corridor are necessary with or without the Glade Reservoir project. However since some potential roadway alignments for the two projects overlap, County staff will maintain an awareness of the Glade project as it progresses through the planning process. We will take into account the potential impact of the Glade project on the Owl Canyon project as more information becomes available.
