I think they made the right decision. The viability of the downtown businesses is essential to the health of our city, and, to me, this far outweighs any inconveniences imposed on traffic through Glenwood. Loss of business during the crucial pre-Christmas time would be detrimental to most downtown shops, and would result in loss of sales tax revenues to the city. However, it is unfortunate that the state has insisted on concrete paving versus the cheaper and faster alternative of asphalting. With Grand Avenue traffic increasing yearly, the only sensible solution to Glenwood’s traffic problems will be construction of a bypass route. Maybe then we can have a more pedestrian-friendly inner city area.

Absolutely! Downtown businesses have had enough problems in the last few years, with big-box stores and attendant cut-rate prices, fires, obscene gas prices, and seemingly endless parking problems. Since CDOT has seen fit to pave Grand Avenue with concrete, with its fabulous little expansion strips to rattle your teeth every time you cross one of them, they can at least avoid closing downtown during the merchants’ best months. That being said, I have told anyone who would listen that downtown businesses must offer something unique, and they must offer personality, if they are to survive. Shoppers can go to a big box and be ignored.