Trail News - Proposed Lobo Trail Connection at Spine and Jay Roads

Last week, the Courier reported that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) underpass along the Diagonal Highway at Four-mile Creek Trail represents a significant improvement for bikers and pedestrians using the trail between Niwot and Boulder. According to the Boulder County press release, the "Four-mile Creek Bikeway Project will create a continuous, safe bikeway along SH119 between Boulder, Gunbarrel, Niwot and Longmont."

However, despite their excitement for this development, local area bikers are also aware that there are remaining discontinuities on the county trail system that need to be addressed to provide a safe, off-road trail.

Specifically, the LoBo trail does not yet have a direct, safe connection between 63rd Street or Spine Road in Gunbarrel to Jay Road. An off-road connection is still needed to access the Cottonwood Trail which leads to the forthcoming BNSF Fourmile Canyon Creek Trail underpass.

Boulder County Public Works Communications Manager Andrew Barth directed questions to the Lobo Trail - Jay Road Connection Project website as well as to its project manager, Tonya Luebbert.

Luebbert wrote about the project, "Throughout the rest of 2024, we will be finalizing engineering design and completing other necessary work (obtaining easements, ditch shareholder agreements, permitting, etc.). The goal is to construct as soon as possible in 2025."

No further information about the trail connection was provided.

Additionally, project plans that were initially posted on the project website appear to have been removed.

There were two possible routes that were elevated above others to make the connection from the LoBo Trail in Gunbarrel to Jay Road. Option A involved work at 55th Street and Jay Road. This option, according to the most recent project posting, has been demoted in consideration.

For now, the preferred option is Option D, which would involve a dedicated bike lane from Spine Road with an upgraded crossing infrastructure to the south side of Jay Road west to the Cottonwood Trailhead.