Johnnie: At exit 235 on Interstate 25 in Frederick there is a sign saying “Eldora Ski Area Next Exit.” Why on earth did they put the sign there? It is 43 miles to Eldora, and Colo. 52 doesn’t even go to Eldora. I could understand an Eldora sign at U.S. 36 and Canyon but not in Frederick. — Curious
Curious: I’ve seen those signs at that exit for years but never asked why they were there, so I’m glad you did.
By way of Google Maps, I followed the route that I knew would take me from that exit to Eldora. Just east the intersection of Colo. 52 and Colo. 119, there’s an Eldora sign pointing south (west) on Colo. 119. Colo. 119 leads to the sign that you referenced, on 28th Street at Canyon Boulevard in Boulder, with the words “Eldora Ski Area” and an arrow pointing west. In Nederland, there’s a sign at the downtown roundabout directing motorists toward Eldora. Finally, there’s a sign directing motorists onto Eldorado Avenue, which leads them to Eldora’s entry sign.
This seemed to make sense — for someone who already has a pretty good idea of where to go — but still left me wondering why this particular route was chosen and who chose it.
The Colorado Department of Transportation Guide Signing Policies and Procedures says that for interstate highways, “Signing shall be installed only at the interchange most commonly used to access the ski area. The area must be within 50 miles of the interchange to be signed. … To qualify for signing in an urban area, the Ski Area must exhibit an annual attendance of at least
65,000 persons. For signing in rural areas the minimum annual attendance figure is 40,000 persons.”
I couldn’t imagine when Colo. 52 was the mostly commonly used interchange to access Eldora.
I turned to Colorado Department of Transportation spokesman Jared Fiel to find out who made the decision to install those signs and how that route was chosen.
Fiel said that such routes, in general, are chosen using a number of considerations: “Do we want to stay on the state system or not? If not, is the authority in charge of the road willing to put up guide signage to assist? Which roads get plowed first to maintain access? Does the route include amenities (gas, lodging, etc.) in the event of stranded motorists yet still common to the destination? Does the route allow for easy detours if needed to still arrive at the destination?”
However, he said that no one he spoke with at CDOT knows when or how those Eldora signs came about.
So I turned to the folks at Eldora.
“At some point under Eldora’s previous ownership group (prior to 2016) … signs were erected at various intersections within a 50-mile radius of Eldora, on routes commonly taken to Eldora,” Marketing Director Sam Bass said in an email. “For communities in the eastern (Fort Collins)/Greeley region and south to the Frederick/Firestone area, this route provides the best access to Boulder and (Colo.) 119 through Boulder Canyon to Nederland and Eldora.”
Curious, that’s why those signs are at that exit. But as Field noted: “Clearly, these types of signs were used a lot more before everyone had their own GPS in their pocket.”
Dear Johnnie St. Vrain: Hello my name is Charlie. … I’m an eighth-grade student at Westview Middle School and I am a member of NJHS: National Junior Honor Society. This summer I completed 15 hours of community service by picking up trash at 35 Longmont Parks. In addition to my hours, I am also required to complete a service project. My project is to help the City of Longmont with their litter campaign by supporting and promoting their annual Clean Up, Green Up which has been rescheduled from the spring to Sept. 19-Oct. 10. …
Could you help to encourage your readers to participate in this event? The city hopes the community will sign up to help clean neighborhoods, parks, trails, streets, and open spaces. When I picked up trash this summer I noticed the city does a good job of providing both trash and recycling containers at the parks, but it’s not enough. People are still leaving trash around benches, picnic shelters, and around ponds and the river. The city needs the community’s help to keep our city beautiful.
Dear Charlie: I’m sorry I didn’t get this published sooner. The pandemic has limited my time in the office, and by the time I saw your letter on my desk, it was too late to encourage residents to participate in the recent kick-off event.
However, it’s still worth the reminder to all to keep our city clean, not just through Oct. 10 but throughout the year. I advocate leaving any place we visit better than we found it.
Charlie, there’s nothing I can do to encourage readers to join the Clean Up, Green Up effort that you have not already done. Thank you.
Send questions to johnnie@times-call.com.
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Johnnie St. Vrain: Why is that Eldora sign along I-25? - Longmont Times-Call
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