A proposed concrete bike path running in the median of the Diagonal Highway between Longmont and Boulder could encourage more commuters to ditch their vehicles and get on their bikes for trips between the two communities, said Scott Conlin, a local cycling advocate and one of the leaders of Bicycle Longmont.
“We are very excited about the bike project,” Conlin said. “It will encourage a lot more commuting along the highway.”
Bicycle Longmont has contributed to the planning of the bikeway, which would cost $30-$35 million to build, Conlin said. So far,a funding source has not been identified.
Conlin said there are concerns about connecting local streets to the bikeway including Airport Road. “But that is going to be part of the planning process,” Conlin said. “It will be a great way for people to get to go by bike along the Diagonal.”
A preliminary and final design of the bikeway — will cost $2.5 million — and is funded through Boulder County and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (or DRCOG), according to a Boulder County news release.
Phil Greenwald, city of Longmont’s transportation planning manager, said there is a good chance the bikeway could get funding from the recently passed $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill. A least $550 billion from the federal package will go to investments in the country’s road and bridge system, according to CNN.
There is a gravel path adjacent to a portion of Diagonal Highway — also known as Colo. 119 — which is called the LoBo trail, Greenwald said via email.
The LoBo trail is not a direct route and meanders through Niwot and Gunbarrel before making a connection into Boulder, Greenwald said. “The proposed Colo. 119 bikeway is more direct, planned to be in the median of Diagonal Highway, and constructed in concrete for the entire length between Longmont and Boulder.”
He said the bike path is similar to the bikeway adjacent to U.S. 36 from north Denver to Boulder.
A Boulder County news release stated that planners are now starting extensive field work on the Diagonal corridor including:
- Mapping of utilities, trees, culverts and irrigation ditches. This will show what needs to be moved, redesigned or worked around.
- Determining if threatened or endangered wildlife live or migrate through the area.
- Conducting a noxious weed inventory.
- Seeing if there are any hazardous materials in the corridor
- Gauging the historic resources.
- Doing soil sampling and groundwater measurements. “This is important so the bikeway won’t sink, or buckle and underpasses won’t flood,” the news release states.
- Conducting a traffic study. This ensures that safe at-grade crossings are safe and they utilize features such as bicycle detection and rapid flashing beacons and pedestrian median, the news release states.
Planners hope to have more detailed plans for the bikeway, including its alignment, completed by April.
