Golden – Students from Mitchell Elementary School sang and acted out nursery songs Tuesday afternoon with words rewritten to protest proposed road alignments through Golden.
All of the four alternatives for the last link of the metro beltway – discussed at a public hearing Tuesday by the Colorado Department of Transportation – would pass close to the school, which is next to Colorado 93 in north Golden.
“This is not manipulation of our kids,” said Sherrie Swadburg, mother of two Mitchell students. “It’s involving them in an issue that is endangering their safety and their future.”
“Ring Around the Rosie” was changed to: “A ring around Mitchell. A mouth full of exhaust. We all fall down.”
CDOT has analyzed the 22-mile corridor and held work group and community meetings over the past 1 1/2 years to whittle down the initial list of 73 alignments.
Final route alternatives to link the Northwest Parkway at U.S. 36 with C-470/U.S. 6/Colorado 58 are a freeway; a tollway; a plan relying on regional arterials; and one that combines toll lanes with nontolled highway improvements.
On the Colorado School of Mines campus, 400 to 500 mostly Golden residents crowded in to learn more about the four remaining routes.
Large maps of the alternatives stood in a lobby, with CDOT team members handling a parade of individual questioners.
Inside the auditorium, audience members expressed disapproval over the alignments.
“The no-action alternative is not being considered,” said Carol Russell.
Alexa Claybun said the four alternatives would hurt downtown Golden businesses by creating visibility and access problems.
“Trying to cure congestion with more highway capacity is like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt,” said David Sandburg.
Others wanted to see CDOT’s scoring of alternatives; some noted pollution would rise in Golden; a few worried about pitting cities against each other; and others objected to tolling and demanded answers.
“I hope our questions and comments aren’t just taken down and buried in some website,” Swadburg said.
A final environmental impact statement will be prepared by mid-2006, with the Federal Highway Administration expected to issue a “record of decision” by the end of 2006.
The alternatives will also be presented and discussed from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Broomfield Community Center, 280 Lamar St., and June 2 at Faith Bible Chapel, 6250 Wright St., in Arvada.
For information or to make comments, call the project hotline, 303-220-2545, or visit www.NWCorridorEIS.com.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
