February 11, 2026 – The Department of Public Works (DPW) is advancing a comprehensive, data-driven Intersection Safety Improvement Program focused on reducing serious and fatal crashes at high-risk intersections across the County.
Guided by Board of County Commissioners direction and funding, the program prioritizes locations based on crash history and field reviews, with a focus on Federal Highway Administration-proven safety countermeasures. Intersections with a history of fatal or serious injury crashes are addressed first, followed by locations with planned or ongoing work, ensuring resources are directed where they can have the greatest safety impact.
Through this program, DPW has already delivered a range of improvements, including quick-turn safety enhancements completed by in-house crews at approximately 25 intersections, such as upgraded signage, refreshed pavement markings, and improved crosswalks and stop bars. The program also includes contracted construction projects at priority locations, delivering more complex safety improvements such as enhanced intersection visibility, lighting, striping, and other FHWA-proven countermeasures designed to reduce serious and fatal crashes. National research shows that similar improvements can reduce fatal and injury crashes by up to 27 percent at rural intersections and deliver strong returns on investment, with an average cost-benefit ratio of 12 to 1.
“This program reflects our commitment to improving safety in a strategic, fiscally responsible way,” said Joshua Palmer, El Paso County engineer. “By using data to guide decisions and proven countermeasures to address risk, we can make meaningful safety improvements while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
As part of this effort, El Paso County is developing an online public dashboard that will provide greater transparency into roadway improvement priorities and progress, including pavement preservation and safety investments planned for 2026. Additional details about the dashboard will be shared once it becomes available.
Intersection safety improvements are part of a broader Countywide approach to roadway safety that includes pavement preservation, targeted maintenance, and ongoing evaluation of where infrastructure investments can most effectively reduce risk. DPW will continue to monitor results and refine the program to ensure measurable progress and a clear path forward.
For more information about El Paso County’s roadway and intersection safety efforts, visit the Department of Public Works website.