1-Color
January 1, 2014
75 cents | Volume 48, Issue 51 Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County A publication of
tri-lakestribune.net
SANTA CLAUS warms hearts in town
Interstate expansion moves forward Stretch of road from North Gate to Monument expected to be completed by next summer By Danny Summers
Dsummers@ourcoloradonews.com
A little girl cuddles up to Santa after he gave her a new stuffed animal. Santa, Mrs. Claus and his elves made their way through the Tri-Lakes neighborhoods bringing toys to kids in need during the annual Santa on Patrol on Dec. 21.
By Lisa Collacott
S
anta and his elves delivered toys to boys and girls in need during the annual Santa on Patrol which took place Dec. 21. Santa Claus, also known as Chief Jake Shirk of the Monument Police Department, took toys and gift cards to families in the Tri-Lakes area that might have a difficult time this season. All this was made possible by the generous donations of people in the Tri-Lakes community. More than 1,000 new toys were donated. With sirens blaring, Santa and several of his elves, which consisted of members of the Monument and Palmer Lake police departments, the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District and the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department, made their way through neighborhoods bringing smiles to childrens’ and parents’ faces. One mother even cried as her three children received gifts from Santa. “This is what makes it all worth it,” Shirk said.
A little girl gets on her first bike that was given to her by Santa. Santa brought a lot of smiles to children’s faces in the Tri-Lakes area on Dec. 21.
A mother cried tears of joy and gave Santa a hug after he handed out Christmas gifts to her children. Parents and children were grateful for the gifts and gift cards they received during the annual Santa on Patrol.
PHOTOS BY LISA COLLACOTT POSTAL ADDRESS
After almost a year of lane closures, backups and detours, travelers along Interstate 25 between Woodmen Road and North Gate Boulevard can breathe a sigh of relief. Just prior to Christmas, the Colorado Department of Transportation opened up three lanes on the six-mile stretch of road. “Now you can see what it’s like when it’s not as congested,” said Dan Hunt, one of the CDOT project architects. “It’s seems to have taken a lot of stress off the traffic and everything is free flowing like we had anticipated.” The massive I-25 Expansion Project calls for the road to be widened to three lanes up to State Highway 105. The final four miles of road starting at North Gate exit 156 should be completed by midsummer - several months ahead of the target date. “Some asphalt is already in place from North Gate to Monument,” Hunt said. Part of the next phase of the project includes relocating and expanding the truck chain-up station that is located south of Baptist Road. The first phase of the project included building roundabouts going east and west at North Gate. “Everybody has their opinions with roundabouts,” Hunt said with a smile. “After they were put in we changed a couple of things with signing.” The freeway expansion is being handled by Kiewit Infrastructure Co. (Kiewit), in association with its design sub-consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB). “They got a little behind with the floods and rain and fire, but they brought in extra crews to catch up,” Hunt said. “They are back on schedule and you can already see that they are making progress on the final stretch of freeway.” As crews continue to work, weather conditions will dictate the type they can do, but drivers can continue to expect to see daytime and limited nighttime work. While drivers now have additional capacity on a significant portion of I-25, CDOT asks that drivers remain vigilant and drive safely, and at the posted speed limits, throughout the remainder of the project.
Interstate continues on Page 5
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