Local officials confirm that a developer is behind current road work at B Street/Venetucci Boulevard intersection
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) –Construction that began in July at an intersection where four jurisdictions meet has some drivers asking who is in charge of the work and why it is necessary.
KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior contacted officials from El Paso County, Fountain, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT); they confirmed that a developer is leading the project at the intersection of B Street, Highway 85/87, and Venetucci Boulevard.
Venetucci has two segments: the north end, which is in the Colorado Springs city limits, and the south end, which goes up a hill to the South Academy Highlands shopping center, an area annexed by Fountain years ago.
A center median separates Venetucci at the intersection.
Crews have done some street paving and concrete work (curbs and sidewalks) and are rebuilding the center median.
However, it’s unclear how much road work will happen there.
The Road Warrior left a message with the developer’s office on Wednesday to request more information.
Occasionally, developers will agree to make infrastructure improvements around another project; that could be the case here, with a large apartment complex — and other development — being built near the shopping center.
A sign outside the complex lists the scheduled opening as early next year.
CDOT plans to eventually replace the highway bridge over I-25 and possibly include a roundabout at each end.
A roundabout at the intersection would improve traffic flow by eliminating the need for drivers to make illegal U-turns to get around the median that prevents a straight route on both ends of Venetucci.
Municipal boundaries have become increasingly important in the area due to recent growth and development; traffic is fairly heavy because of the proximity of Fort Carson and Pikes Peak State College.
Two years ago, The Road Warrior reported on uncertainty regarding who was responsible for street maintenance on the north side of the intersection; Colorado Springs ultimately determined that Venetucci, north of B Street, was in the city’s jurisdiction.
The city performed temporary repaving work there, and officials said that they would plan more extensive improvements in the near future.
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