Colorado Springs installed temporary barriers and signs on Wednesday to stop left turns at a northeast intersection that saw two fatal accidents within the span of a few days in August.

City Public Crews were out early Wednesday morning at the intersection of North Union Boulevard and Garmish Road making the changes. A sign was installed in the intersection banning left turns. Lines of yellow bollards were installed along the median of the road to block off left turns while leaving Garmish or on the southbound side of Union.

Public Works spokesperson Eric Sieger said the city had already been considering the accident risks and crash rates at the intersection before the two fatal crashes. Union Boulevard has three lanes of traffic going each way past Garmish, which is a neighborhood entrance.

“You can see this is a really tough intersection for sightlines because of the hill, because of the traffic moving maybe a little faster than it should. It makes those left turns in and out very difficult,” Sieger said.

Spencer Lehmkuhl, 20, was killed in a crash in the evening on Aug. 9. Three days later, Randy DiBuono, 41, was killed in a similar collision on Aug. 12.

Both victims were driving motorcycles. Initial reports from the Colorado Springs Police Department stated excess speed was a factor in both crashes, and Sieger said Wednesday that left turns had also contributed.

The changes will be in place for at least six months while the Traffic Engineering Department assesses if a more permanent solution is needed and if residents are willing to give up the turn lane option. Sieger said the nature of any long-term changes would depend on the data and the city’s budget for improvements.

Fatal motorcycle crash victim in north Colorado Springs ID’d – Colorado Springs Gazette