The Boulder County Transportation Department will begin a project this spring to add shoulders to State Highway 170. Boulder County is working cooperatively with CDOT to complete this 3.5-mile stretch of highway between State Highway 93 and Superior. The final product will look similar to Cherryvale Road, which was completed a few years ago. The purpose is to provide a safer area for bicycles to ride on the road adjacent to automobiles.
Originally identified as a priority in the Transportation Sales Tax passed in 2001, the project is estimated to cost $2.3 million when completed. The first phase of the project was completed in 2007, when the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) paved the surface of the road for winter wear. The final phase of the project will add another layer of asphalt after the shoulders have been constructed.
SH 170 is a scenic road that runs along the old mining community of Marshall and allows views of historic railroad grades and open space trails. It is popular with commuter and recreational bicyclists alike.
