Winter cyclists and pedestrians may soon have a wider sidewalk over Castle Creek Bridge as the City of Aspen tries out a snowy version of this past summer’s “living lab.”
City staff said the recent trail extension was successful in providing a safer commute for bikers and pedestrians without affecting traffic, but the barriers used to separate the sidewalk from vehicles were not winter-ready.
The new “snow lab” would again narrow traffic lanes, using short vertical posts to separate the trail from cars and trucks. The winter experiment will help the city determine the best methods of snow removal and ensure that RFTA buses have enough room to pull out into traffic from the 8th Street stop.
City Council plans to discuss the project Dec. 13, and if it is approved, commuters can expect to see the new configuration Jan. 3.
