What is the Central City Parkway?
Central City Parkway is an 8.4-mile four-lane parkway that runs from Hidden Valley at I-70 Exit 243, straight into downtown Central City. The roadway has a total paved width of 64 feet that includes 8-foot wide shoulders on each side. A four-lane bridge was constructed across Clear Creek just north of I-70. There are locations along the road for scenic viewing. The maximum grade along the parkway is 7.9 percent, which occurs over two 0.6-mile sections in the first two miles leading out of Clear Creek, a 1,000-foot section at the 3.4-mile point, and for the last nine-tenths of a mile down info Central City. The maximum grade is similar to the grade on the eastbound frontage road to I-70 at Floyd Hill. The first 2.8 miles of the parkway are lit for additional safety.
How long does it take to get to Central City by way of Central City Parkway?
The Central City Parkway was being built to design speeds of up to 55 mph. It takes approximately 12 minutes to travel from I-70 to Central City in good weather. The road is maintained and policed by Central City.
Why is another road to Central City and Black Hawk necessary?
While the narrow, winding two lane roads were part of the charm of a trip to the historic gold mining areas of Central City and Black Hawk back when relatively few people made the trip at any one time, since the advent of limited stakes gaming, traffic loads have increased tremendously beyond the capacity of the existing roads to carry the traffic safely and with any reasonable predictability. The Parkway allows visitors a choice between an old, twisty road and a modern highway.
How was the Central City Parkway funded?
The privately funded road cost $38.3 million to construct. The Central City Parkway was built with no government dollars. It was paid for by local Central City businesses through property taxes collected within the Central City Business Improvement District (CCBID). Residential and non-profit property owners were not obligated to pay for the road.
What is the current status of the project?
The Central City Parkway opened to the public on November 19, 2004, one day ahead of schedule. Pre-construction crews had been working in the area since August of 2003 and an official groundbreaking occurred Friday, October 3, 2003. The final phase began in June 2004.
Whose idea was it to develop an alternate access route to Central City and Black Hawk?
Central City Parkway is a vision of the Central City government, its local businesses and property owners, more than 10-years in the making. Committed to creating a highway that was quick, safe, easy and scenic, keepers of the parkway vision took the time to be sure planning encompassed every aspect of these considerations.
Who developed and built the Parkway?
The Central City Business Improvement District spearheaded the development of the Central City Parkway, and the road was constructed by the design/build team of Ames Construction, Inc. and HNTB Companies. Ames Construction had the experience and ingenuity to create a first-rate parkway. Past projects include the initial construction at DIA, the DIA taxiways, Highway 285 improvements, as well as many other highways, railroad and airport construction projects across the country. HNTB is a highly experienced engineering firm that many people will recall from the reconstruction of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon and the new Invesco Field at Mile High. In addition, the engineer consulting firm of Sellards & Grigg provided construction administration and oversight. Sellards & Grigg is a civil engineering and land surveying firm that has provided consulting engineer services to municipal, state and federal clients over the past 36 years.
Is the Parkway safe to drive?
The new Central City Parkway is a safe and modern roadway, constructed to meet or exceed Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) standards. The Parkway has four 12-foot lanes, 8-foot paved shoulders and long, straight site lines. It is maintained by Central City and patrolled by the Central City Police Department. To help reduce the danger and maintenance problems of rock falls onto the Parkway, special rock-catch ditches were built to prevent falling rock from bouncing onto the roadway. Where necessary, rock faces were bolted and covered with steel netting to minimize and/or prevent rocks from falling. The south exposure of a majority of the road will promote quick melting and reduce the impact of snowfall on travel safety.
How does the Parkway benefit visitors to Central City and Black Hawk?
Visitors to Central City and Black Hawk will now have a quicker and safer scenic road to the historic towns.
Does the Parkway have the support of the surrounding communities?
The Central City Business Improvement District has worked closely with governing bodies of the surrounding areas and Denver in developing the road. The Central City Parkway was approved for connection to the Hidden Valley interchange by CDOT. It has approvals from the Denver Regional Council of Government (DRCOG) and has been included in its Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Central City, Clear Creek County and Idaho Springs has been established in order to readdress the requirements, concerns and criteria for future development along the Central City Parkway corridor. Meetings have and will continue to be held with these impacted entities to address any concerns elected officials and the public have with the operation of the parkway.
Who maintains the Parkway?
Central City maintains the parkway.
Is Central City Highway designated only for people who want to gamble?
Absolutely not. This important parkway has been designed to accommodate every type of visitor to the Central City area. In addition to providing a modern and quick road for gaming patrons, Central City Parkway is a scenic way for skiers to travel to Eldora for some local powder. The beauty of the drive alone is enough of a reason to take the trip, with scenic viewpoints to see wildlife, such as big horn sheep, mule deer and elk, as well as to take in the views of the mountain meadows and hillsides along the way. There are a number of old abandoned gold mines along the drive as well. Once visitors get to Central City, they can enjoy one of many historic sites, such as the Central City Opera house, built in 1878, the Gilpin History Museum or an original schoolhouse built in 1870.
Did the Central City Parkway receive the appropriate approvals and permits from the specific city, county and state governing bodies?
Central City Parkway received all of the permits and approvals necessary to begin construction on one of Colorado's next best roadways.
How does the Parkway impact the environment?
There are environmental impacts associated with any large construction project. The Central City Business Improvement District and the Ames/HNTB design/build team have obtained permits from the various jurisdictional agencies for construction, operation and maintenance of the Central City Parkway. Conversations are ongoing with representatives of other agencies, such as the Colorado Division of Wildlife, to address possible impacts that construction and operation of the roadway may have to wildlife. A pre-construction assessment found the project to have no impacts to wetlands or threatened and endangered species.
