Outdoors
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Open Space/Mountain Park news
Jul 22nd
Beginning today, July 22, Community Ditch Trail will be closed at State Highway 93. The closure is likely to last for most of the next year in order to facilitate the installation of an underpass that will allow trail users to cross SH 93 without mixing with highway traffic. All trails in the area will remain open for use, but may offer only an out and back experience during the closure. There will be extensive construction activity in the area of the underpass and the department asks that all users respect the closure and avoid the construction zone for their and other’s safety. Traffic on SH 93 will also be affected. However, the highway will remain open during construction with various lane restrictions.
NEWS
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Media Contacts:
Jim Reeder, Open Space and Mountain Parks, 303-413-7640
Sarah Huntley, Media Relations, 303-441-3155
Work to begin on underpass on Community Ditch Trail at State Highway 93
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department announced today that work will begin on the long-awaited underpass on Community Ditch Trail at State Highway 93 (Hwy. 93) on Monday, July 22. When completed, trail users will cross under Hwy. 93 rather than mixing with traffic on the highway.
The underpass is one part of a larger Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) project. Hwy. 93, from State Highway 170 to State Highway 128, will also be widened to create wider shoulders and be overlain with new asphalt. The work will be done by a CDOT contractor.
The underpass is expected to be in use by July of next year. Vehicular traffic will be affected by the construction work with some lane closures. However, the highway will remain open for the duration of the construction work.
“OSMP has wanted to create a safer crossing of 93 for many years. Safety for our trail users is a priority, and we are excited to learn that installation will begin next week,” said Jim Reeder, OSMP division manager. “We anticipate that more users will begin to explore and enjoy the Community Ditch Trail once this project is complete.”
While the underpass is being built, however, existing users should know that the existing crossing via Hwy. 93 will be closed. This means that several trails will temporarily become out-and-back trails, starting on July 22. Individuals can check the department’s website at www.osmp.org for information about which trails are affected.
For more information, call OSMP at 303-441-3440.¡¡ Additional information can also be found on www.osmp.org.
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Community Cycles – Walk and Bike Month
Jul 17th
The city of Boulder’s Community Cycles program is out to help promote people to take part in the Bike to Work Day.
Boulder Sheriff’s fire ban extends to county borders
Jun 17th
The dry conditions, along with the consistent reports of new large fires across Colorado and the western United States, have moved many federal fire aviation and ground crew resources out of the area. In addition, the holiday camping season is close at hand, increasing the potential for human caused fires.
(See attached map)
State statutes authorize counties to impose a fire ban “to a degree and in a manner that the Board of County Commissioners deem necessary to reduce the danger of wildfires within those portions of the unincorporated areas of the county where the danger of forest or grass fires is found to be high, based on competent evidence.”
The amended fire ban allows for:
- Indoor fires in fireplaces or stoves.
- Smoking indoors or within an enclosed vehicle.
- Campfires in improved and maintained public campgrounds that are currently open to the public, as long as the actual size of such fire is smaller than two feet in diameter by three feet in height.
- Liquid or gas fuel stoves use on private and public lands.
- Charcoal grill use on private and public land.
- Smoking outdoors in areas free of flammable material.
The amended fire ban prohibits:
- All other outdoor burning, slash fires, use of any kind of fireworks, model rockets, and all other outdoor spark or flame producing activities.
The fire ban does not affect open fires within incorporated cities and towns; however citizens must comply with applicable ordinances and regulations in their respective cities and towns.
Anyone found in violation of the fire ban may be convicted of a class 2 petty offense and may be subject to a $500 fine, in addition to any possible civil penalties. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses.
For current fire and shooting restrictions for United States Forest Service properties go to the following website:http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices
For current fire restrictions in Eldorado Canyon State Park go to the following website:http://www.parks.state.co.us/Parks/eldoradocanyon/Pages/EldoradoCanyonHome.aspx
This media release may be found on the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office website at: http://www.bouldersheriff.org