There’s nothing like plans for a roundabout to illustrate the rural/urban divide in Colorado.

“We were totally caught off guard and surprised by a roundabout the Colorado Department of Transportation is proposing at the intersection of Colorado Highway 67 and U.S. Highway 24 in Divide,” said Teller County Administrator Ross Herzog, speaking at the commissioners meeting March 24.

Herzog and Teller County Commissioner Erik Stone met with CDOT officials March 16 and heard the proposal.

“We’re going to fight this,” said Commissioner Dan Williams.

Among other concerns, commissioners worry the roundabout could pose a danger to residents. Currently, there is a traffic light at the intersection with arrows for right and left turns at its four corners.

“There is a subdivision going in near the intersection with 170 homes expected,” Williams said, referring to Alpine Vista developed by Craig Nelson and his daughter Jessica Nelson. “And the roundabout won’t work for mining trucks” that are traveling through the intersection en route to the SSR Cripple Creek & Victor Mining Co. in Victor, he added.

Williams envisions a political as well as a local fight to stop the proposed project.

“The arrogance of it just surprised us,” he said.

In addition to Alpine Vista near the intersection, the county is building the Citizens Service Center across from the subdivision on Highway 67.

“The CDOT officials didn’t even know that each had pulled permits from the state,” said Commissioner Bob Campbell.

Alpine Vista’s co-developer had the same reaction as county officials.

“They sprung this on us last week,” said Craig Nelson, speaking by phone after the meeting. “A lot of people are challenged by roundabouts, so I worry about injuries or fatalities there.”

The subdivision, Nelson added, is intended for families. “Can you imagine a mother with a child, maybe in a stroller, walking across that intersection with a roundabout?” he said.

A better solution, Nelson said, would be to direct traffic through a bypass that would begin at Hybrook Drive off U.S. 24 and connect to Colorado 67. 

“That’s what Woodland Park should have done a long time ago,” he said.

Nelson agrees with Williams that, if implemented, the roundabout would be a barrier for the large semi-trucks traveling through the intersection.   

Nelson envisions another scenario. With a roundabout possibly holding up traffic, the situation could cause a jam on U.S. 24 as drivers try to enter the highway at Twin Rock or Sherwood Forest roads.

“I worry about that,” he said.