Cortez officials are not planning a highway bypass around the city. That message was emphasized Wednesday night at an open house about the city’s new Transportation Master Plan. Two engineers with Jones and DeMille Engineering told an audience of about 70 that the city is seeking public input on the master plan, which was prepared by the firm. Many in the audience had apparently come because of concerns sparked by mistaken information spread through flyers distributed by a private individual. That erroneous information claimed that the plan recommends a bypass route on Road H south of the city. Engineer Micklane Farmer said the new master plan does show Road H as a proposed truck route as an alternative way to get into the city from the south in the event of a closure on Highway 491. He said, “That’s not saying we’re going to bypass the city.” He said traffic on Main Street is very important to the city’s economy, adding, “We are not proposing a bypass nor is the plan going to propose that in the future” The plan identifies roads critical to the city’s transportation network, intersections that may need traffic lights, streets most in need of maintenance, and potential bike paths. The public can provide comments on the plan through the city’s website at https://experience.arcgis.com/template/eac4caaa75fc4ee6bf9ec49b3c55dc77/page/Home or by written comments. Cards and dropboxes are available at City Hall and the Cortez library.
Gail Binkly is a career journalist who has worked for the Colorado Springs Gazette and Cortez Journal, and was the editor of the Four Corners Free Press, based in Cortez.