Bikers, drivers and pedestrians came together on Tuesday to give feedback on the planned bikeway overpass along Colo. 119 between Boulder and Longmont, also known as the Diagonal Highway.

The Colo. 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project is a collaboration between Boulder County, the Regional Transportation District, and the Colorado Department of Transportation. The project involves several changes to the Diagonal Highway meant to improve safety for all users. Construction will begin this fall.

One element of the project is a planned bikeway overpass at 63rd Street in Gunbarrel. The overpass, which crosses 63rd Street in the middle of the Diagonal Highway, is being constructed above-ground due to an existing underground water line.

“We don’t have a lot of overpasses in the community,” said Stacey Proctor, project manager for the design of the bikeway. “So we wanted to make sure people had a chance to weigh in on what it looks and feels like.”

At Tuesday’s open house in Gunbarrel, around 60 guests came to see renderings of three designs for the overpass. The concepts have slight differences in their shape, color, and building materials.

Next to diagrams of each concept, visitors could write what they liked and didn’t like about the idea. The designers will use the suggestions to narrow the project down to one preferred concept.

“The feedback has generally been positive, which is great,” said Jonathan Knight, a landscape architect for the project. “It’s nice to have the biking community, in particular, advocating for themselves.”

Knight explained that the feedback will help the designers create a bridge that fits the aesthetics of Boulder County. He said the visitors seem appreciative of the ideas, especially the use of local stone and colors that blend in with the Flatirons.

Knight said that, based on the feedback so far, the “Front Range Modern” design has been the most well-received. The concept features an arch design and uses powder-coated steel.

“It’s the most minimalist, sleek,” Knight said. “It’s less dramatic, maybe, than the other two concepts.”

Chuck Brock, a Boulder resident, biked to the open house. He said his main concern with the overpass is that it’s functional.

“I just want to get across it safely so I can get where I want to go,” Brock said.

As someone who bikes frequently, Brock said he is most excited about the separation from traffic the bikeway will offer.

“Because of all the separation, you don’t really interact with vehicles at all,” Brock said. “That separation is what makes biking viable for a lot of people.”

Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy also attended the event. Levy used to ride her bike along the Diagonal Highway, but said the road has become too busy and dangerous over the past several years. The Colo. 119 Bikeway, she said, could make bicycle commuting available to more people.

“It wouldn’t be something where you have to be a super-fit athlete to think about riding to Gunbarrel, or riding to Longmont,” Levy said.

In addition to the bikeway overpass, Tuesday’s meeting included information about the upcoming Gunbarrel Shuttle, a free microtransit service. A map of the shuttle’s service area gave guests a detailed look at where the vehicles would run in Gunbarrel.

Karen Worminghaus with Boulder Chamber Transportation Connections said Gunbarrel includes around 20,000 residents and employees who could benefit from the shuttle.

“The need is great for this type of thing,” Worminghaus said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people who are keenly interested.”

Worminghaus said that most of the funding for the shuttle service is coming from Boulder County and RTD. The service should begin early next year.

“Microtransit is really coming into its own, I’d say, as far as the evolution of where transit is going,” she said.