CDOT began to offer Bayfield its ideas of what to do with 160. Proof of that precept came in May, when CDOT offered alternatives to the town s citizens on a Tuesday evening. The news of the Bayfield petition to the governor was on the front page of Wednesday s Durango Herald , and new options were forthcoming from CDOT by Wednesday evening. Though the written agreements that came out of this lengthy process were signed off on by CDOT and others, there were still obstacles encountered, Short said, as they got down to the specifics of engineering. Now the Bayfield project includes a project review team, still representing the various interest groups, which meets monthly to keep the project on track.
Construction is still at least a year away, and cost overruns have complicated the task.
Several Mancos business owners contacted Friday said they thought the expressway designation was a serious mistake and should be undone. Both thought lowering the speed to 35 mph would help still more, while noting that no design could possibly eliminate all accidents. Dolores, Del Norte and U.S. 160 entering Durango from the west work that way, she pointed out, with the traffic flowing at 45 mph. Riffel emphasized the need for Mancos Valley residents to attend the Wednesday evening meeting and get involved. I would like to see a safe intersection and I would like to see a thriving business community.