Editor’s note:Elizabeth Key is a resident of Redstone.
With summer coming, the Redstone community is preparing for some likely troublesome traffic, since the north-south thoroughfare has been converted into a dead end due to the reconstruction of the South Bridge — the main entrance into the village. Residents on the north end of the Boulevard, long accustomed to a cul-de-sac esque lifestyle, are now experiencing some anxiety over higher traffic volume and speeding.
Redstone is a rural community of about 93 residents in unincorporated Pitkin County, roughly 20 miles south of Carbondale. It sits at an elevation of 7,200 feet along the Crystal River near the base of Mt. Sopris. There is a small collection of businesses, including a general store, antique shops and a couple of restaurants, but it lacks a municipal government, post office, gas station and a modern grocery store.
With the closure, visitor traffic must pass through the residential area on the Boulevard twice, whereas before visitors would primarily use the South Bridge to get to the commercial core, near the Redstone Inn, and leave the same way.
In winter, Redstone functions largely as a bedroom community, while in the summer it draws visitors to its nationally-designated Historic District, known for its 1902 Victorian-influenced architecture and Swiss chalet style. On the Fourth of July, tourists flock to Redstone for a parade and fireworks, often picnicking and enjoying ice cream in the nostalgic, small-town setting.
Sarah Uhl, mother of Hukson, 6, Wylie, 4, and a baby due in May, said she has already noticed an increase in traffic, and cars exceeding the 15 mph speed limit.
“The day they closed the bridge, you could just feel the difference in speeding and the volume, and it’s not even tourist season yet,” she said. “People go over a speed bump [and] are already right back up to like 25 miles per hour.”
Despite recent concerns, the Boulevard continues to serve as an informal community gathering place where residents congregate outside their small historic homes. Without sidewalks, residents teach their children to ride bikes, walk dogs and socialize along the Boulevard.
Uhl emphasized the importance of preserving its community character.
“It’s important for people to understand that this is truly a village where people live and children are at play in a way that is perhaps more free and unrestricted than most places,” she said. Uhl suggested that visitors could be asked to park at Elk Park, between the Crystal River and Highway 133, and walk over the footbridge into town.
As the impacts ripple through the neighborhood, work on the new bridge continues to progress. The bridge is slated for completion in September, though the proposal included an early completion possibility. Project Manager Charles McManus, with Myers and Sons, said he would like to finish the bridge before the Fourth of July festivities, but acknowledged that might be overly ambitious. Still, he said the project is trending ahead of schedule.
The bridge is undergoing a significant structural transformation, but one that also considers the village aesthetic. The original, built in 1947, was a steel structure made of two 40-foot girders and a central support column in the Crystal River. The new bridge will consist of five precast concrete girders from Denver spanning 90 feet. The length will eliminate the need for a mid-river support.
McManus described the concrete girders: “They’re kind of shaped like a box … They’ve got rebar reinforcement inside of them, but they are also hollow.”
As far as the rest of the plan goes, McManus filled The Sun in on what to expect.
“We’re going to set some rails, and then we [will] bring in a paving machine,” he said. “It’s a specialized paving machine called a Bid-Well.”
Pump trucks will spread concrete in a zigzag pattern, while the Bid-Well machine moves back and forth in a slow, steady progression to pave the bridge deck. A crown will be built into the bridge to shed water, followed by the installation of a sidewalk along one side and railings. Finishing work, including painting, will complete the project.
The temporary closure has also sparked discussions among residents about long-term traffic management. Dan Sohner, father of Isla, 5, and Arbor, 3, said the closure presents an opportunity to address ongoing speeding issues on the Boulevard.
“It’s going to set us up for the next five years on how Pitkin County manages Redstone and how the town speaks up and advocates for itself,” he said.
Sohner said he would like to see a greater police presence in Redstone, adding that he always stops to wave at and thank deputies. He’s hoping for increased enforcement this summer.
Matthew Betcher, father of Bowie, 3, said he worries about distracted drivers, and that, in today’s accelerated society, people are often so focused on getting where they are going that they are not aware of their surroundings.
“All it takes is one person driving 35 mph, not paying attention and one of our kids runs out in front of the car,” he said. Betcher also suggested installing traffic cameras, at least for the summer, and a patrol car stationed at the entrance to East Creek Road.
“If getting to their destination means they might get a ticket, they’re going to snap out of it,” he said.
Uhl urges drivers to take in their surroundings, calling on them to “slow your roll” and appreciate the area’s beauty.
The Sun reached out to Pitkin County for this story, but did not receive a response as of press time.