FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) — Many residents of this growing town were happy when local leaders broke ground on a new King Soopers grocery store this summer and look forward to its grand opening next summer.
However, some are not excited about the additional traffic congestion they believe the supermarket will generate.
The new store is being built at the intersection of Mesa Ridge Parkway (Highway 16) and Syracuse Street — across from Mesa Ridge High School and the relatively-new Mesa Ridge Crossing commercial development that includes a gas station/convenience store, car wash, tire store and coffee shop.
In addition to the traffic already generated by the school and businesses, Mesa Ridge Parkway is a busy corridor connecting to Interstate 25, Fort Carson, Highway 85/87 and Powers Boulevard (Highway 21).
The new grocery store development also will have several restaurants and other businesses in an area to be called the Mesa Ridge Marketplace.
“What is the evacuation plan for this area if, God forbid, there were a train derailment or a casualty event? John Cuellar asked in an email to KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior . “There are very few entrances and exits to and from this grid. Emergency vehicles could be stuck and unable to enter and evacuate effectively. A mass shooter would have easy pickings, severe weather would have an effect, fires would trap people.”