Fillmore interchange targeted for grant-funded facelift
The mess that is the Fillmore-Interstate 25 interchange may be on the fast track for a makeover, thanks to a push from the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments to land about $10 million through a federal grant program that has bypassed previous Colorado proposals.
Although there are plenty of other road projects to be tackled in the Colorado Springs area, the PPACG board considered the criteria for a TIGER grant, and decided Fillmore had the best chance of winning — especially because Colorado Springs is putting about $6.7 million toward a companion project just west of the interchange.
“They look for a local partner to put in a good amount of money themselves,” said Kathleen Krager, senior traffic engineer for the city. “That’s one reason this project looks good for a TIGER grant.”
The interchange is also a good candidate for TIGER because it is closer to being shovel ready than other high-demand projects, and the cost is more in line with the typical grant award, she said.
This year marks the fourth round of funding through TIGER — the Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant Program. But Colorado has received only a couple of grants, none in the Colorado Springs area.
“We’re 49th out of 50 states,” Krager said. “The feeling is, we’re about due.”
Earlier this week, El Paso County Commissioner Amy Lathen and several other public officials met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who offered advice on increasing the odds of securing a TIGER grant: Work as a region to come up with just a few projects.
“Essentially he said, ‘give us one from Denver and one from down here,’” Lathen said. “If you send a lot of applications for TIGER grants, they won’t prioritize the projects for us, and we won’t get any money.”
PPACG got the message, and settled on the Fillmore interchange. On Friday, the state Transportation Advisory Committee unanimously voted to recommend to the Transportation Commission that the Fillmore project and another from the Denver area be submitted for a TIGER grant. The commission will meet in Colorado Springs on Thursday to vote on the recommendation; if they OK it, local officials will write up the grant proposal in time for a mid-March deadline, Krager said.
The new interchange would be a “diverging diamond interchange,” a relatively new design that would be a first in Colorado. According to the website divergingdiamond.com, the design reduces the number of collisions, is simpler for drivers to navigate and increases left-turn lane capacity.
“It seems to work well in urban areas,” Krager said.
The Fillmore interchange is a mess of confusing turns, high volume and congestion, and it’s expected to only get worse when a VA clinic opens at Fillmore and Centennial in about two years. The TIGER project would cover only the interchange, and not extend east on Fillmore to a bridge that has raised concerns because of its appearance, but has been deemed safe.
And even if the TIGER grant doesn’t come through, Krager said, work will proceed on the city project to reroute Chestnut Street just west of the interchange.
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