SAYS MORE ROADS LEADING TO CITY IS VITAL NEED
Colorado Transcript, August 23, 1923
In 1923, Alderman Bert Jones wrote that better roads were one of Golden’s greatest needs. He proposed that we partner with Boulder to build the north and south ends of a road between the cities, then try to persuade the county and state to fund the rest.
GOLDEN-BOULDER ROAD ASSURED
Colorado Transcript, May 5, 1927
In 1927, a Transcript article reported that the state had committed $18,200 to help fund the proposed highway. Several more articles about the hoped-for highway appeared throughout that year and for several years following. There was always progress on the road, but it was never quite completed.
WPA PROJECTS BEING PLANNED FOR BOULDER ROAD
Colorado Transcript, August 20, 1936
In 1936, we were hoping to use WPA funds to complete the road from Golden to the Boulder county line. Boulder County had already completed their part of the road.
GOLDEN TO BECOME HOME OF ATOMIC WORKMEN
Colorado Transcript, March 29, 1951
73 Years Ago
The March 29, 1951 Colorado Transcript reported that the federal government planned to build “New $45,000,000 Atom Plant to Employ 1,000 On Special Secret Research War Work.” This was the Rocky Flats plant–now a National Wildlife Refuge. The mayor remarked that Highway 93 “had better be fixed fast.”
“It is reported that Boulder county is to put its end of Highway 93 in shape right away, and the same is hoped for in Jefferson county.”
REALLY ROCKY FLATS
Colorado Transcript, November 20, 1952
By 1952, there was a road of sorts, but apparently it was bad. The November 20, 1952 Transcript included a guest editorial describing Highway 93 as:
…a slow road to drive, but it is a terror on cars. Even the new cars with all their easy riding features bounce all over the roads…. The last six miles into Boulder are oiled, as is the first mile out of Golden, but between the two it really deserves the name Rocky Flats. Every year that I can remember the county commissioners have added a little gravel to the road. One good storm and a few cars later the road is just as rocky and rough as ever. Now with all the traffic to the atomic plant, there is a greater need than ever to improve the Rocky Flats road. Although some work has been done on the road recently, it still has a long way to go, before it can be considered adequate for the traffic on it.
FROM WORST TO BEST
Colorado Transcript, December 20, 1956
As the Transcript had hoped, the arrival of a major employer (the nuclear weapons plant) inspired the state to finally finish the Golden to Boulder road. The December 20, 1956 Transcript reported that “Highway 93 from Golden to Boulder over Rocky Flats used to be one of the worst in the state. Now it is one of the best.”
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!
