I-70 possibly being closed to semi-trucks???WTH!! (Denver, Grand Junction: luxury, construction)

[DOUBLE H]

I second jazzlover's comments regarding the RV drivers. I've been to enough Bronco games at Invesco and the old Mile High to see some, um I'll say miscues by people who clearly have never had any experience driving rigs at all. One happened seven cars up from us where one didn't corner coming on Zuni St. where the power plant is. Three cars got popped, held up traffic that much further, sheesh what a mess!

[wanneroo]

I think it's getting to the point, I-70 needs a rebuild and rethink. Time for some more tunnels, more lanes, more mountains bulldozed, especially the dumb twin tunnels at Idaho Springs.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

The 70 goes through the Colorado and when in the Denver, you'll see exits for the 25, the Havana, the Quebec, the etc.

Why do the Californians preface all their roads with "the?"

Its a SoCal thing. Originally, freeways had proper names like The San Diego Freeway, The Santa Monica Freeway, etc. Route numbers eventually replaced proper names in everyday language but the "the"s remained.

[TonyVaz1009]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

I think it's getting to the point, I-70 needs a rebuild and rethink. Time for some more tunnels, more lanes, more mountains bulldozed, especially the dumb twin tunnels at Idaho Springs.

I agree with this. Usually I lean on the environmentalist side of things, but let's get real here. There are a lot of people that want to go a lot of places, and I-70 is the best way to deliver that.

Take all the thousands and thousands mountains in the state, and bore tunnels through what, 10 of them, to make a roadway more safe and efficient... Doesn't seem like too bad of an idea to me.

The only thing is the time and money to complete such a task. Immense.

[mountainrose]

Why can't they use the trains more efficiently---would they need a huge $$$ upgrade and more trains available?

[Kings Ranger]

I think we need to re-vamp the trainsportation system and get more resources flowing via it as we grow more in the US...

The US Interstate system as a hole is in need of a re-build, our infrastructure is taking a beating from carrying our economy.

I think if we did try and fix it all the government would go more in debt, but if we played it right, it could be a "New Deal" where we got the economy jumpstarted again...

[CosmicWizard]

TonyVaz1009 wrote:

The only thing is the time and money to complete such a task. Immense.

We've got the time, but not the money. I would like to see a BIG FAT TOLL based on vehichle weight slapped on to the portion of I-70 between Denver and Grand Junction. And this would be a progressive toll...the heavier the vehichle the higher the cost per pound. Samll, light weight vehichles would pay a very low rate, while heavier SUVs and trucks would pay a rapidly progressing higher rate. Let those who use it and tear it up PAY for it. Sock it to em!

[Mike from back east]

Wiz, not a bad idea. I'd put tolls on most Interstates, for everyone; else raise the gas tax, which will get howls from some folks.

IMO the most graceful way is to raise the gasoline tax, as we already have everything to collect and disburse it already in-place, there'd be no additional resources required to collect it, i.e., tollbooths, RFi transponders (like E-470 to DIA) or collection/accounting staffs.

The gas tax was never indexed for inflation and has become insufficient; many years of inflation have occurred without the gas tax escalating to match it. Use the added money for highway fixes, mass transit and rail partnerships. Either way, it's going to cost a lot, won't pay for itself and I'm not willing to kick everyone's aging parents off of SS or Medicare in order to do it.

It has to be done since we are not going to stop growing and not going to stop competing in the world economy. Our competitors are busily putting in the infrastructure they will need to compete, all we have to do is make up our minds and find some leaders who'll lead the way despite the objections of those who hate any and all taxes.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by mountainrose

Why can't they use the trains more efficiently---would they need a huge $$$ upgrade and more trains available?

How often in the past ten years have you taken a train (other than for scenic purposes)?

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

TonyVaz1009 wrote:

The only thing is the time and money to complete such a task. Immense.

We've got the time, but not the money. I would like to see a BIG FAT TOLL based on vehichle weight slapped on to the portion of I-70 between Denver and Grand Junction. And this would be a progressive toll...the heavier the vehichle the higher the cost per pound. Samll, light weight vehichles would pay a very low rate, while heavier SUVs and trucks would pay a rapidly progressing higher rate. Let those who use it and tear it up PAY for it. Sock it to em!

Now, what government services do you use? I'd like you to pay "toll". At least that's the principle you're espousing.