City strips crosswalk walls after driver complaints

Concrete barriers have been removed from crosswalks along West Colorado Avenue in Colorado Springs after public feedback flagged visibility issues. City officials dismantled the structures this week, marking a rapid shift in the year-long street redesign project.

Ryan Phipps, the city’s capital improvements manager, said the initial installation of protected crosswalks last month included temporary concrete walls. He explained that residents reported the solid barriers blocked sightlines, particularly for shorter pedestrians. The city pulled the barriers to restore clear views for people on foot.

Changes also occurred in the center of the roadway. Planners reduced the size of pedestrian refuge areas after input from first responders. Phipps noted that drivers maneuvering to make way for emergency vehicles sometimes created blockages at these refuges. The city scaled back those sections to ensure fire and police units can move freely up and down the corridor.

Phipps described the changes as part of an iterative testing process rather than a correction of errors. He stated the goal is to balance different needs while the design enters its trial phase. The city is currently seeking further feedback to determine how the revised layout performs in daily use.

Local businesses are monitoring the adjustments closely. Joe Kliche, manager of Centennial Cuts, a beef retailer on the avenue, said his family has raised cattle in Fowler for three generations. The shop sells its products at a single brick-and-mortar location, making access critical for both local shoppers and tourists.

Kliche said the store supports the center lane for parking, which aids in loading and unloading. However, he noted that managers expected more additional parking spaces. He described the stanchions now standing in the middle of the street as a little weird. The latest updates reset the trial period for this section of the avenue.

The project includes lane realignment, parking adjustments, and new options for pedestrians. The city continues to evaluate the design based on real-world performance. No final timeline for the completion of the West Colorado Avenue improvements has been announced.