DENVER – Rep. Doug Lamborn and Gov. Jared Polis are making a public push to encourage the Colorado Department of Transportation to plan improvements to Highway 94 east of Colorado Springs.
Lamborn shared a statement Monday night that he talked with Gov. Polis last week about making safety improvements to the road between Schriever Air Force Base and Peterson Air Force Base.
Following that conversation, Polis distributed a letter that said he directed CDOT to consider the importance of the highway in the organization’s planning process.
The push comes as the Department of Defense considers locations for the U.S. Space Command.
“One of the many factors the Department of Defense considers when looking to stand up a new command is transportation and accessibility. During my productive meeting with Governor Polis, he pledged to fully support the return of U.S. Space Command to Colorado fully and prioritized Highway 94 with the Colorado Department of Transportation,” Rep. Lamborn said in a news release.
The campaign also comes after Schriever AFB personnel said they learned about a new, 8951-unit development is planned on a 5,322-acre parcel of land near the base.
“Colorado must consider the importance of transportation infrastructure in providing access to this facility, and to nearby Peterson AFB, and support their missions,” a portion of Polis’ letter to Lamborn read.
Polis’ letter read that he’s directing CDOT to add safety improvements for eastbound drivers near the hill around the El Paso County waste facility. He also said he wants to add westbound passing lanes between Schriever and Colorado Springs.
He also proposed lighting improvements in that stretch because Schriever is a 24-hour facility. He estimated the improvements would cost between $7 million to $10 million and “CDOT is working to identify funding sources for these improvements.”
