The Mancos Town Board expressed support Wednesday for an alternative highway construction plan that preserves critical frontage-road access to several businesses.

The option was drawn up last week by a committee formed to analyze a controversial plan by the Colorado Department of Transportation that improves a dangerous intersection blamed for two deaths in recent years.

To alleviate the problem CDOT will likely install a traffic signal at Highways 184 and 160 sometime this spring. But while the agency’s 20-year, $6 million plan improves safety at the crowded intersection, it also blocks off convenient customer access to several stores on Railroad Avenue and the north frontage road.

"I foresee a lot of lost business there (under CDOT’s plan)," said trustee Herman Muniz.

To solve the problem, the Mancos Bypass Committee supports installing the traffic light, but wants to preserve both frontage-road accesses off Highway 184 on the north and south side of Highway 160.

CDOT’s long-term plan blocks off the three entrances from Highway 184 in favor of frontage-road access off Highway 160, farther away from the revamped intersection.

To alleviate traffic congestion at the confusing road convergence, the committee suggested making the frontage road on the north side of 160 a one-way thoroughfare heading east. The south frontage road, or Railroad Avenue, would be one-way to the west.

Railroad Avenue would also be extended east a bit in order to match up with Ervien Street that reaches the highway from the north, forming a new intersection there.

The speed limit on Highway 160 should remain at 40 mph through town, the committee concluded.

"I think it is worth a shot," said Paul Christensen of the proposed alternative.

But CDOT engineers typically do not negotiate on highway issues, warned Mancos Town Administrator Tom Glover. Having community consensus on preferred changes helps, though.

"We seem to have that with the businesses and the community with this proposal," he said.

It was suggested that a petition be circulated around town to show CDOT officials that the community supports a solution that preserves businesses along that stretch of the highway.