For More Information
Contact: Kitty Clemens
Economic Development Director
719-685-9741
CELL (719)-321-8561
May 14, 2004
Manitou Avenue Gets a Face Lift Just in Time for Summer Tourism Season
Manitou Springs - The long awaited revitalization effort for downtown Manitou Springs will get underway the week of May 17th with help from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Manitou Springs and CDOT are jointly funding the project. Since Manitou Avenue is within CDOT’s jurisdiction as part of the federal highway system, the Department regularly schedules maintenance for Manitou Avenue. The work is scheduled for completion before Memorial Day to not disrupt the summer tourist season.
To facilitate a smooth transition from four lanes to three lanes, the decision was made to begin the three-lane configuration on the east side of town near Crystal Park Road and continue it to Minnehaha Avenue on the west. Extra space created by restriping will allow for 97 new parking spaces in the 600 and 1100 block of Manitou Avenue. Pedestrian safety will be enhanced because the center lane will provide a refuge from oncoming traffic while crossing the Avenue.
A motorist exceeding the speed limit on Manitou Avenue is an on-going concern of residents with children. Reducing the width of the roadway will help slow traffic to posted speed limits and improve safety for children crossing to the library and elementary school. Providing a left turn lane - rather than the current condition, which causes drivers to change lanes in order to pass a vehicle stopped in traffic, will enhance safety.
There will be no business disruptions during construction. Parking will be prohibited on Manitou Avenue starting at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 16th until crews complete the job. Crews are expected to complete the seal coating on Wednesday, May 19th. Application of a 3/8 inch seal coating will create a uniform appearance on the roadway, cover old lines and cracks and stabilize the road bed for an additional four years while construction is underway in the downtown commercial core. Crews will be working between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., weather permitting. CDOT crews will return to Manitou Springs on Monday, May 24th to paint stripes and apply the new three-lane configuration. All work is expected to be complete by Wednesday, May 26th, weather permitting.
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Face Lift - page 2
The Metropolitan Parking District will provide free parking in the Wichita lot at Manitou and Pawnee Avenue. Employees and people coming to the area while crews are working will be given temporary passes. The temporary parking passes will be distributed to businesses along Manitou Avenue, and are available in the Finance Department at City Hall, 606 Manitou Avenue and at the police dispatch center after hours.
Construction for the First Phase of the downtown revitalization project is scheduled to begin in July. The extra space created by the three lane roadway configuration will allow the overhead power lines to be buried, wider sidewalks, new street trees and historical lighting. Phase One also will create a public gathering place and pocket park near the new Manitou Lofts and Shops development and open Shoshone Spring to the public. Shoshone Spring has been closed to the public for more that fifty years. The project is made possible through bonded funds approved last November by voters from The City of Manitou Springs, a land donation from Bill and 2 Chucks LLC and a grant from CDOT. Other partners in the project include the El Pomar Foundation, the Manitou Springs Mineral Springs Foundation and the Manitou Springs Economic Development Council.
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Manitou Springs Ahead is a citizen driven volunteer effort to implement the Manitou Avenue Master Plan. Citizens from numerous community groups formed Manitou Springs Ahead to submit charitable grant requests, solicit individual legacy gifts and work with government agencies on final design and construction in historic downtown. Progress updates can be found at http://www.manitouspringsahead.com/.