Residents happy U.S. Women's Open officials plan to use 2008 traffic plan

U.S. Women’s Open organizers didn’t try to mend what wasn’t broken when it came to planning parking and traffic.

Officials stressed that they would use the same plan that residents and officials said worked so well during the 2008 U.S. Senior Open. And that had the few residents on hand for a meeting at The Broadmoor hotel’s Colorado Hall feeling pretty good about how their neighborhood would be affected during the professional golf tournament July 4-10.

If they do the same as before, everything will be fine,” said Bob Brands, one of 10 residents at the meeting. “There are plenty of ways for me to get out and go about my business. It’s a good plan.”

A second meeting is set for 6 p.m. June 6 in Colorado Hall, First Street and Lake Avenue.

“I think using the same plan as ’08 put everyone at ease,” said U.S. Open executive director Douglas Habgood. “We want to keep up an open line of communication with the residents.”

The traffic plan calls for a number of roads to be closed before and during the event, which is expected to draw as few as 8,000 fans on July 4 and up to 25,000 on July 10.

Public parking will be severely restricted in The Broadmoor’s vicinity. Free buses will shuttle volunteers and employees from parking lots some distance away. Spectators are asked to board buses at the World Arena.

Drivers can drop people off at Pauline School, where cyclists can use the many bike racks.
Most roads west of the hotel will be designated as no parking zones and barricades will block traffic from crossing Lake Avenue except for Berthe Circle and Old Broadmoor Road.

The section of West Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard between Mirada and Penrose will be closed from June 27 to July 15.

The only concerns raised by neighbors were about homeowners charging for parking in their driveway or on lawns, which is prohibited. Residents urged the city to prevent parking on the Hazel Avenue cul de sac because driveways often are blocked.