Side Streets ~ Neighborhood people and issues

Archive for the 'guardrail' Tag

BLACK AND BROWN BLUR LOOKS LIKE PEACE OF MIND

February 5th, 2012, 11:30 am by

A deer trots along a new 150-foot guardrail installed along Rockrimmon Boulevard by the city behind the homes of Mitch Logue and Donald and Colleen Kunecke.

 

To most motorists flying through the intersection of Vindicator Drive and Rockrimmon Boulevard, the new guardrail along the east side is just a blur of black and brown steel.

And, to be honest, that’s why it was installed.

Most drivers are going way too fast around the corners of the T-shaped intersection to notice. (They are too busy texting their BFFs or eating a triple-cheeseburger or applying makeup.)

But to Mitch Logue and Donald and Colleen Kunecke, the sturdy new 150-foot barrier represents peace of mind and freedom to use their backyards without fear.

It’s something most people take for granted . . . the confidence they won’t get killed in their backyard by Danica Patrick impersonators.

But that’s been a very real threat for Logue and the Kuneckes, who have the misfortune of backing up to the busy intersection, kept hopping morning and night by people racing to the adjacent Safeway Center, or the large apartment complex, or to Eagleview Middle School or commuting to Mountain Shadows and Peregrine.

I drive it daily and routinely see cars accelerating down Vindicator toward its dead-end at Rockrimmon. They turn north, two abreast, tires squealing as the wild-eyed drivers — no doubt listening to 50 Cent on their earbuds  — charge to the next light.

Between the two properties, more than a dozen cars have plowed through their fences and into their yards over the years.

Just one example of the damage Mitch Logue has endured during his years backing up to Rockrimmon Boulevard and Vindicator Drive.

Mitch Logue told me he’s replaced sections of his fence a half-dozen times in 10 years. In July 2009, he spent $3,600 replacing the entire fence. Within days a small SUV smashed through and landed in his yard, taking out a post and slats.

Before the Kuneckes bought their home next-door in 2000, a soda delivery truck came crashing into the yard. Prior to that, a pickup destroyed the fence and slammed into the dining room.

Then, on June 3, 2009, a huge, white sport utility vehicle roared down Vindicator, slammed into two cars waiting at the stoplight, lurched through the intersection, jumped the curb and blasted into the Kunecke’s backyard.

This white SUV wrapped itself around a tree in the Kuneckes' backyard in June 2009 after ramming two cars at the stoplight, plowing through the intersection and exploding through the fence.

“We were getting ready to eat dinner,” Colleen Kunecke told me at the time. “It sounded like an explosion. It scared the hell out of me.”

The SUV ended up wrapped around a tree.

Prehistoric guardrails employed by the Kuneckes to protect themselves in their yard.

To protect themselves, the Kuneckes positioned huge rocks to deflect wayward vehicles.

Both families are happy to finally get some protection from the city.

“Now I’ve got some safe area to work with,” Mitch said last week. “I’m happy.”

And he’s making plans for his yard.

“I’m thinking about putting a greenhouse back there,” he said.

The Kuneckes echoed his satisfaction.

“We were quite surprised,” Donald said. “Now we’ll be protected.”

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SUV INCOMING! LOOK OUT BELOW!!!

May 4th, 2011, 12:56 pm by

Centennial Boulevard climbs north toward the exclusive Peregrine neighborhood past Mountain Shadows, Pinon Valley, Ute Valley Park, Oak Valley Ranch and includes sweeping curves and steep drop-offs in places.

See the missing section of fence in the photo? The house behind is owned by Jeff Pitus

 On Good Friday, his house was knocked off its foundation by an SUV that roared off Centennial Boulevard, smashed through his neighbor’s fence, became airborne and plowed into his deck and retaining wall. 

Two unidentified Colorado Springs firefighters study an SUV that wrecked behind the home of Jeff Pitus on Rising Moon Drive in the Oak Valley Ranch neighborhood. His house backs up to Centennial Boulevard and this SUV is not the first motorist to leave the road.

Check out the rubble left behind after the SUV was winched out of the yard. 

After the SUV was winched out of the yard, Jeff Pitus was left with the aftermath. The damage inside his home is much worse.

Not what you want to see from your bedroom window! 

The SUV is winched up and out of Jeff Pitus' backyard and back onto Centennial Boulevard.

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Jeff and his neighbor Bryan Bruce say this was not the first time a car smashed through a fence and landed in a yard.

They worry that someone will be killed by a maniacal driver. Their situation is especially dangerous because their houses sit so far below Centennial.

Before tragedy strikes, they want the city to install a guardrail or concrete barrier to deflect traffic back onto Centennial.

Both sides of Centennial have guardrails about 500 yards to the north.

Dave Krauth, city traffic engineer, said guardrail typically costs about $30 a foot and could be an option to protect the neighbors.

The remants of Jeff Pitus' fence along Centennial Boulevard after an SUV was winched out of his backyard. To the left, a new section of fence shows where the SUV left the road behind a neighbor's home. Farther down the road, another new section of fence indicates where another car crashed through about 18 months ago.

The path of a marauding SUV is visible from the smashed fence on the left, the damaged retaining wall and deck on the back of Jeff Pitus' home.

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GUARDRAILS FOR EVERYONE!!!

June 13th, 2009, 11:38 pm by

Folks in the Spring Lane at Valley Hi neighborhood are resting more comfortably in their homes. Here’s a look at the neighborhood entrance back in December when we first visited:

cheltonrocks1

Peace came to Spring Lane after city crews finished installing 200 feet of guardrail along South Chelton Road.

Here’s a look at the situation in December:springlanebefore

 

 Here’s how is looked in June after city crews removed “Nature’s guardrail” and installed the real thing:

 springlaneguardrailclose

 

Folks there are thrilled. You can read about their situation in my Dec. 11, 2008 column. Here is a link to my blog  from Dec. 11, 2008.

Now folks in Rockrimmon are asking for help.

Over the years, a house on Dillon Circle has been the target of cars and trucks that can’t seem to recognize that Vindicator Road ends at Rockrimmon Boulevard and they must turn.

Instead, knuckleheads have crashed, over and over, through the backyard of the house, now owned by Donald and Colleen Kunecke. Here is a look at the area from www.FlashEarth.com:

fenceflash

 

fenceflash2

Over the years, the owners of the house installed large boulders to protect themselves from maniacs on the other side of their fence. But the wrecks keep piling up along with the shattered privacy fences.

The most recent was June 3, 2009, when an SUV smashed two cars sitting at a red light, roared through the intersection, jumped the curb and destroyed a large section of fence. 

Below is a look at the intersection, with the school crosswalk sign, facing east into the Kuneckes’ backyard.

fence8

Through the hole in the fence a barrier rock is visible.

fence9

 Police identified the driver as Felicia Benjamin, 28. She was cited for driving without insurance, careless driving and driving a defective vehicle. She told police her brakes failed. 

 According to online court records, Benjamin has a long history of traffic including driving without registration, with expired plates, under suspension, for making illegal turns, and speeding. Some  charges were plea-bargained and others dismissed, the records show.

Benjamin could not be located for comment.

Here’s a look at her SUV after the wreck.

fencewreck2

        Dave Krauth, principal traffic engineer for Colorado Springs, promised to investigate the intersection and its history of fence-destroying wrecks.

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