Ditch the Ditch (I-70 thru Denver) (neighborhoods, construction, living)

[alloo66]

Ditch the Ditch

What do you think?

[bluescreen73]

Is this the group that's advocating for the equally asinine re-route of I-70 along the existing 270 corridor?

[SkyDog77]

This is counter productive. The improvements being made are very beneficial to the residents of the area. They just don't think they should have a highway anywhere near them even though they have lived next to one forever.

[wilberry]

I remember reading that there was one Idea to reroute through Adams county

[Augie Daugie]

I'm not a fan of either alternative. On the surface, the re-route to 270/76 seems to be a good choice, but it would negatively affect so many businesses along I70 that need easy freeway access. In addition, the benefits of demolishing I70 and restoring 48th Ave will lead to property values going up and subsequently displacing many residents of Elyria, Swansea, and Globeville as the area becomes rapidly gentrified. My BS meter really went off when I learned that Kyle Zeppelin joined as a plantiff in a lawsuit against CDOT---the Zeppelin family would profit handsomely from redevelopment and gentrification of these neighborhoods.

[woob]

How about we just stop widening highways and invest in some real transit solutions? The front range will soon be all LA style congestion.

[MsBall]

Originally Posted by woob

How about we just stop widening highways and invest in some real transit solutions? The front range will soon be all LA style congestion.

The mayor has committed to building more bike lanes, he also wants people to car pool.

Denver mayor wants commuters to stop driving to work by themselves | FOX31 Denver

Hancock is proposing a plan to reduce the number of people who commute to work by themselves by car.

"Seventy-three percent of Denver commuters drive to and from work in cars by themselves. By 2030, our goal is 50 percent," Hancock said.

[Left-handed]

Don't blame me. I bike commute and use the bus to get to most places.

[davidv]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

This is counter productive. The improvements being made are very beneficial to the residents of the area. They just don't think they should have a highway anywhere near them even though they have lived next to one forever.

They have not lived next to a highway "forever."

The building of I-70 through Denver is an example of Nimbyism and the inability of poor residents to stop the destruction of their neighborhoods.

The original east-west highway through Denver was US-40 which turns into Colfax Ave. In fact, the US-40 route east and west of Denver of the metro area is the route that I-70 was built on which is why I-70 intersects with Colfax on both the east and west sides of Denver. The interstate was rerouted through the Denver metro area to the north part of the city because the poor residents of Denver could not mount the legal challenges necessary to stop the construction of the route.

When it was built, the highway divided long-established ethnic neighborhoods filled with Polish, Slovenian, and Italian immigrants. These tightly-knit groups were split and the neighborhoods fell into further decay. Today's groups are trying to avoid a second round of neighborhood busting by protesting the ditch and asking for alternatives.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by davidv

They have not lived next to a highway "forever."

The building of I-70 through Denver is an example of Nimbyism and the inability of poor residents to stop the destruction of their neighborhoods.

The original east-west highway through Denver was US-40 which turns into Colfax Ave. In fact, the US-40 route east and west of Denver of the metro area is the route that I-70 was built on which is why I-70 intersects with Colfax on both the east and west sides of Denver. The interstate was rerouted through the Denver metro area to the north part of the city because the poor residents of Denver could not mount the legal challenges necessary to stop the construction of the route.

When it was built, the highway divided long-established ethnic neighborhoods filled with Polish, Slovenian, and Italian immigrants. These tightly-knit groups were split and the neighborhoods fell into further decay. Today's groups are trying to avoid a second round of neighborhood busting by protesting the ditch and asking for alternatives.

I'm well aware of the history. The vast majority of the residents there have been living next to that highway as long as they've been living here. Sure there are some exceptions. They see this as their one opportunity to try to get the highway moved, but at the end of the day it will not and should not happen. what is being proposed is a dramatic improvement for them versus the status quo.

They're entitled to their opinions of course and I'm entitled to mine.