John Klomp

Klomp expects Army to help with roads to depot

By JAMES AMOS
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Pueblo County Commissioner John Klomp said Monday that he thinks the Army will pay $17 million to upgrade and build additional roads at the airport industrial park.

Klomp told members of the Pueblo Rotary Club 43 on Monday that the Army's Defense Access Road program is made for just that purpose: paying for the impact of Army programs on nearby communities.

The Army's program to destroy mustard agent shells at the Pueblo Chemical Depot is expected to generate a lot more traffic through the industrial park, and Klomp said the current roads there won't take the additional volume.

Furthermore, the park has only one way in or out - the underpass to U.S. 50 - and that makes it unsafe if the industrial park has to be evacuated, he said.

The chemical depot also is accessible farther east directly from U.S. 50.

The county wants to extend William White Boulevard westbound - connecting to Colorado 47 - and already has the funding to construct a two-lane extension.

Klomp said he wants the Army to pay to expand the road to four lanes, therefore providing a second way in and out of the depot.

Klomp also hopes the Army will help rebuild a deteriorating United Avenue, which runs though the industrial park.

At the east end of United Avenue, a 6-mile road is being built to the depot.

Altogether, the county is seeking $17 million from the Army for the road work. That's less than the estimated $30 million it would take to improve the U.S. 50 underpass, Klomp said.

An unidentified Rotarian, who owns airport property, asked Klomp why the Army doesn't build an alternate road north from the highway and keep the depot traffic out of the industrial park.

Klomp said such a request was made, but the Army turned it down.

Klomp said that getting the Army to improve the industrial park roads will help the area in the future, even after the depot finishes the chemical destruction process.