Colorado eyes medians for deadly stretch of U.S. 287
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A sign near U.S. 287. Photo: Katie Wood/The Denver Post via Getty Images
The state is weighing medians as a long-requested safety upgrade for U.S. 287 in Boulder and Larimer counties.
Why it matters: Boulder County's deadliest road has been the site of years of fatal head-on crashes, fueling calls for change.
Driving the news: Because the Colorado Department of Transportation found cross-center line collisions make up the majority of serious crashes on U.S. 287 between Berthoud and Lafayette, concrete medians were identified as the best solution.
- Research cited in the project proposal found medians can reduce such crashes by up to 97% and fatal and serious-injury crashes by roughly 70% to 80%.
By the numbers: A Boulder County study analyzing crashes between 2011 and 2020 found:
- Nearly one-third of all fatal crashes in the county happened on U.S. 287, even though the corridor is just 24 miles long.
- The highway averages about 830 crashes each year, with roughly 4% resulting in serious injury or fatality.
Zoom in: The study identified two especially dangerous stretches between state Highway 7 and Pike Road, and between Park Ridge Avenue and state Highway 56.
- Together, they accounted for 73% of all crossover crashes, 93% of those causing serious injuries and 100% of crossover collisions resulting in fatalities, the study revealed.
- Crossover crashes made up 11% of collisions in the south segment and 13% in the north segment.
Yes, but: Concrete medians come with some drawbacks.
- Drivers would likely need designated U-turn points, and some trips to homes and businesses along the highway could grow longer.
- Emergency vehicle response would also need gates or other controlled access points.
What's next: CDOT plans to host open house meetings about the project in "late summer."
- The agency's project website says construction could begin next spring.