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LA PLATA OPENS POWERS-BRIARGATE EXTENSION
Colorado Springs, CO (June 17, 2005) --- La Plata Investments, LLC, community developers of Briargate, will dedicate the following roadway extensions to the City of Colorado Springs at 9 a.m. Friday, June 17:
- The one-mile section of Powers Boulevard from Research to Briargate Parkway,
- Briargate Parkway from Union to Powers,
- Union Boulevard from Briargate Parkway to Royal Pine Drive, and
- Austin Bluffs Parkway from Family Place to Briargate Parkway.
The ceremony will take place at the intersection of Union Boulevard and Briargate Parkway.
These roadway projects represent the completion of a significant part of the Briargate Annexation Agreement and will benefit thousands of Colorado Springs residents both within and outside Briargate. The additional 15 lane miles of arterial streets provide a direct link from Powers to Interstate 25 and access to medical facilities, shopping and entertainment, including Memorial Hospital’s north campus and the planned Briargate Crossing commercial center.
Only about a third of the expected traffic on these new roads will come from Briargate residents; the other two thirds of the traffic will be comprised of existing Colorado Springs citizens and visitors making use of the convenient facilities. The construction cost for this latest dedication exceeded $12 million.
“The completion of these arterial streets will provide a significantly better travel alternative to residents in the northern portion of Colorado Springs. These streets were contemplated under the Briargate Annexation Agreement and have been built at La Plata expense, taxpayer funding was not used. The residents of Briargate, Pine Creek and future homebuyers have or will have picked up the tab as part of their home purchase, even though those residents will create a small portion of the gross roadway usage ,” says Scott Smith, Chief Executive Officer of La Plata.
Smith’s presentation of a “Deed and Bill of Sale” and “Warranty” to Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera will highlight the ceremony marking the opening of the new roads. Among the speakers and dignitaries expected to attend are City Council member Darryl Glenn; State Sen. Ron May; and a CDOT representative.
The presentation will be followed by an inaugural drive in classic automobiles and a declaration by Mayor Rivera that the roads are open.
Background
Since inception in 1978, Briargate has played a major role in the funding and development of noteworthy transportation improvements in northern Colorado Springs, including the Briargate Parkway Interchange on I-25 as well as the extension of Powers Boulevard north of Woodmen Road. The Briargate Annexation Agreement and Briargate Master Plan contemplated the right-of-way for Powers Boulevard through Briargate and obligated the developers to construct the portion from Woodmen Road to Briargate Parkway. To date, more than 125 lane-miles of arterial streets have been completed in Briargate with little or no taxpayer dollars. Other notable Briargate roadways include Research Parkway, Chapel Hills Drive, Lexington Drive, Rangewood Drive and Briargate Boulevard
La Plata, which became Briargate’s master developer in 1995, has continued the process of serving the community through providing road improvements. Phase one of the Powers-north extension, from Woodmen to Research Parkway, was completed and presented to the City in December 2002. Through a partnership with the City of Colorado Springs, Union Boulevard was extended from Charity Drive to Briargate Parkway last year, at the same time that La Plata extended Briargate Parkway from Pine Manor Drive to Union.
This current project completion is the latest big step forward for Powers Boulevard. The Colorado Department of Transportation is completing the next section, 3.2 miles from Briargate Parkway to Colorado Highway 83, and is expected to open it in August.
La Plata Investments is a local community development company committed to providing quality living environments. | 
