Colorado Springs Cyclists Washout on the Fountain Creek Trail

A hearty, enthusiastic cyclist can ride it all the way from Greenland to south of Fountain. It's the Pikes Peak Greenway, a string of dirt and concrete bike paths that will eventually connect Denver and Pueblo. Broken up into their smaller, separate entities, the trails are enjoyed by local cyclists, runners, and walkers. Unfortunately, since July of 2006, users of the Fountain Creek Trail section of the greenway have encountered a deep (approximately 10-feet,) gaping 10-20-foot wide washout in the middle of the trail, roughly halfway between Colorado Springs and Fountain.

According to Brian Kay of the El Paso County Parks Department, that particular area of trail washes out at least twice annually, which has caused the county to steadily move the trail west over the years. And while plans are in place to eventually repair the washout, don't expect a miraculous quick fix. Kay says that while engineers are already developing plans and cost estimates, the earliest that any actual work can begin is January, 2008.

Part of the problem is that as the trail moved west, it eventually ended up on Colorado Springs Utilities property, and they need to bring big, heavy trucks through that area. Therefore, any bridge built over the washout would need to be heavily fortified, which Kay says is not an option. "That would cost me anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000," says Kay, who added that the county's entire repair budget for over 200 miles of trails is only $40,000 a year. "We're broke," he said.

Still, in what Kay called a bureaucratic nightmare, the county is working with the Utilities Commission on a plan to move the trail closer to I-25, where a low water crossing is possible. Kay says the county spent months just obtaining a license from the Utilities Commission, as well as various water and wildlife permits.