Rockfall mitigation project to protect vehicles, pedestrians continues in Manitou Springs
Scott Harrison
MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Rockslides are not uncommon in this mountain town, but after two vehicles were crushed by falling rocks on Lovers Lane this summer, officials are taking action.
A safety project is in its second week along the west end of the lane, between Lafayette Road and Cañon Avenue.
Crews have temporarily installed concrete barriers along an area with cliffs above, to protect traffic and pedestrians from falling rocks.
The rockslide in late August came after heavy rain and crushed two vehicles parked near two private parking spaces; no one was injured.
Maniotou Springs is situated in a narrow valley surrounded by cliffs, making the town vulnerable to rockfalls and flash flooding.
Officials have also temporarily turned Lovers Lane into a one-way street, allowing only westbound traffic.
The lane is more like an alley behind businesses along Cañon Avenue and Manitou Avenue.
Mirage Wolf, an employee at a nearby coffee shop, said that a co-worker owned one of the two cars destroyed and that the co-worker received help in getting it replaced.
“I’d like to see that part of the road closed permanently,” Wolf said. “Maybe if they just close this part where the rocks are falling, and just have this part for parking for the residents who live right up here, and then we have shops up here.”
On Monday afternoon, Ben Schmitt, Manitou’s public works director, said that the town is working on an engineering solution to the Lovers Lane rockfall risk that will cost approximately $125,000.
“The most cost-effective option is to apply netting over the (cliffs) in that area, similar to what CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) does with rocks on US 24 in Ute Pass,” he explained.
Schmitt also said that the city will undertake a study to determine if there are other areas of town with a high rockfall risk.
“As of right now, I don’t know of anywhere else where the danger is as high as it is on Lovers Lane,” he said.
Rockfalls also closed Rainbow Falls, a popular nearby attraction, in 2021; it reopened last summer with new safety measures and parking relocated to another area with shuttle service.