A remnant of the Old Denver Highway running east of the Air Force Academy and west of Interstate 25 doesn’t look like much.The decades-old asphalt, about 20 feet wide, is sun-baked and cracked, with weeds and native grasses taking root in its fissures.It looks exactly like what it is: a longabandoned two-lane road that decades ago took Springs residents on a three-hour drive to Denver. But to the Feds and to state historical types, it looks like history.To El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams, it just looks like a problem.The remnant of the highway, believed to be a section of the oldest of two “old Denver Highways,” has been classified as a “historic element” under federal regulations because it is more than 50 years old. That has forced engineers hoping to build a new interchange at Baptist Road and Interstate 25 to get creative.Dave Poling, a project manager with the Colorado Department of Transportation, said the project’s work schedule will be changed to allow preparatory work to begin in November on the east side of the interstate. Work on the west side will have to wait until the Federal Highway Administration signs off on state paperwork asking that CDOT be allowed to destroy a portion of the old highway to build the new interchange. Poling said as part of winning that approval, the state would have to photograph the old road so there is a historical record of its existence.Poling reckons the Feds should act on that request in about four months.Although starting a construction project in November is unusual, it is important to start work on the east side of the project soon, Poling said, because federal regulations protecting the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse allow construction in its habitat only over the winter, when the mouse hibernates. Poling said mouse habitat is on the east side of the interstate, both north and south of the interchange.Being doubly snared by U.S. regulations is enough to make a local conservative politician wince.”How many times have you taken your family out to see an old slab of concrete?” asked Williams. “They (the Feds) are not making it easy to get things done.”The new interchange, estimated to cost $15 million in 2006 dollars, is a key part of ongoing work to increase the capacity and safety of Baptist Road, which has become a major east-west arterial.Williams said there’s one last hurdle facing the Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority, which is financing the interchange until the state has money to pay for it. The authority must still secure the right of way on property located on the northeast corner of the interchange. Property owners on the other three corners already have donated rights of way. Williams said the authority can begin work this winter on the east side of the interstate without a deeded right of way, but it may eventually have to resort to eminent domain to get permanent access.

Bikes over wivesHere’s a heartwarming tidbit from the world of wheels: A recent survey by Allstate Insurance Co. of 500 male motorcycle riders nationwide found “virtually all” of those who classified themselves as hardcore bikers would give up their spouse before they gave up their motorcycle. Among the hard-core bikers’ top-five favorite cruising songs: “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf and “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.Who said romance – and good taste – are dead in America?-Tell me your commuter tales. 636-0197 or bill.mckeown@gazettedev.gazette.com

Councilman Shannon Solomon led a yoga class Thursday at Mansions Park in Manitou Springs. council will allow the group to meet in city hall for free during winter. Photo by (LIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE)