Weld County Commissioner Scott James grew up in LaSalle and attended Valley High School just down the road in Gilcrest.
Back in those days, James told an audience on Thursday afternoon, he’d still be on time for class if he hit the Peckham interchange at 8:05 a.m. while treating the speed limit as a suggestion.
If he ever returned home past curfew, he added, he’d always tell his parents he was waiting on a train to move through the area.
However, with a new interchange at Weld County Road 44 and U.S. 85, James wondered what the children of today would use for an excuse. James, joined by state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and Colorado Department of Transportation officials, spoke Thursday at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new interchange south of LaSalle — the first new one built on U.S. 85 in 30 years.
U.S. 85 is one of the busiest highways in northern Colorado that sees 31,000 daily drivers, with 15% of that being semi-truck drivers, according to CDOT. CDOT Deputy Executive Director Herman Stockinger said the new interchange improves safety and mobility.
“I’m happy to be here to help celebrate the completion of another 10-year plan project for CDOT,” he said.
Stockinger said the interchange is the 56th project CDOT has completed in its 10-year plan, with more than 40 ongoing projects.
The interchange is the last and the largest project that consisted of closing or moving 12 different railroad crossings along U.S. 85 as part of an agreement between CDOT, Weld County and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Along with eliminating interaction between traffic and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, the interchange provides access control and other features such as two new bridges to carry Weld road 44 over U.S. 85 and the Union Pacific tracks. A roundabout was placed on southbound U.S. 85 ramps and the Weld 44 intersection, as well as intersection improvements at Weld 44 and Niobrara Boulevard. Weld road 33 is permanently closed at U.S. 85 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
“This is a big darn deal for Weld County,” Kirkmeyer said.
Kirkmeyer served as a county commissioner when discussions about the project began more than a decade ago.
Between 2012 and 2016, there were 35 recorded crashes on the highways. Of those, 72% were broadside crashes, leading to serious injury.
James, a former Johnstown mayor, said getting a call about a fatal crash on one of their roads is a call no mayor wants to get, so he applauded the safety efforts made by CDOT and everyone involved.
The interchange still requires some final touches that will lead to some lane closures, but total completion is expected in the next few months.
To learn more about the project and see visuals, go to codot.gov/projects/us-85-wcr-44-interchange.
