Glenwood Springs City Council recently had to decide on a trails-related project for which it would pursue federal funding.

In choosing to seek creation of a bicycle bridge and pedestrian sidewalks on Devereux Road, it made the safe choice.

Safety for nonmotorists will be vastly improved if the federal government comes through on the $540,000 the city is seeking for the project. The city would provide $150,000 as well.

Council was faced with a choice between the Devereux project, and an extension of the city trail system from 23rd Street to Buffalo Valley along County Road 154. Safety is an issue there as well, but not to the same degree as on Devereux, because it doesn’t see nearly the same amount of use.

Devereux serves as one access to Two Rivers Park, a top town gathering place in summer months. On occasions such as Summer of Jazz concerts, hundreds or even thousands of people head to the park. Any nonmotorist who crosses the fairly narrow bridge is forced to share the road with automotive traffic that also can be plentiful when the park is busy.

The danger is heightened by many degrees at night, when nonmotorists become hard to see on the bridge. Also a concern is fairly heavy use by children who may be less attentive to the danger of traffic.

The extension of the trail system to Buffalo Valley has appeal, but the Devereux bridge improvements also will enhance the city’s trail network by linking the West Glenwood Trail and river trail systems.

In seeking to separate motorized and nonmotorized on the Devereux Bridge, council can safely say it chose well.