Pitkin County to receive significant grants for Highway 82 safety improvements

The Colorado Department of Transportation awarded Pitkin County more than $2.6 million in federal and state funds to make safety improvements on Colorado Highway 82, including the creation of the first “Michigan Left” in the state of Colorado.

The grants include $2.5 million in federal funding and $81,735 in state match funding to make changes to two intersections on the highway, according to a press release. Pitkin County committed an additional $200,000 from local match funding. 

“These intersections have a history of serious crashes, including fatalities,” said Andrew Knapp, Pitkin County engineer, in the release. “This funding will help us take meaningful steps toward making Highway 82 safer for everyone who uses it.”

Pitkin County and CDOT worked together to analyze data on crashes at the Smith Way/Juniper Hill Road intersection and the Lazy Glen intersection.

The two intersections have similar issues. According to data and observation, drivers making left turns at these intersections often misjudged oncoming traffic speed leading to T-bone crashes. Both intersections have had fatal crashes from this issue. 

The Smith Way/Juniper Hill intersection will get a Reduced Conflict U-Turn configuration, also known as a “Michigan Left,” according to the release. This new structure removes the option to turn left directly at the intersection and instead directs drivers to turn right where they will find a new lane on the left to make a U-turn. 

According to previous implementations, this design can reduce the severity of conflicts and reduce crashes by 35%. 

Lazy Glen will receive a left-turn acceleration lane, which will make it easier for drivers to enter Highway 82 by merging into traffic with reduced speed differentials. 

The money is slated for the 2028 fiscal year.