Today, June 26th, marks the 10-year anniversary of Steven Studt being struck by Jose Pinon while riding westbound on the Kechter Road bridge at I-25. He died from his injuries on July 5th. Ten years later, a mere 128 feet of missing shoulder still marks the spot.

A cyclist rides past a new ghost bike installed for Studt on the 10 year anniversary of his crash.

At the time of the crash, neither side of Kechter had a shoulder. Coincidentally, in the months leading up to the tragedy, Jennifer Hopkins Brooks had already begun working to improve the corridor. In early June 2015, thanks to her efforts, “Share the Road” signs were installed on Kechter (although not her preferred verbiage). Following Studt’s death, Brooks continued pushing for safety upgrades, and on June 14, 2016, a westbound climbing lane west of the bridge was added—again, the result of community advocacy.

But beyond that, progress has been inconsistent and incomplete. And the delays and fractured responsibility have become part of the problem.

Steven Studt was struck by a driver in a dump truck on the Kechter and I25 bridge.

A Bridge to Nowhere?

In October 2021, CDOT began replacing the Kechter Road bridge over I-25 as part of the North I-25 expansion project. When it was completed in May 2022, the bridge included bike lanes, sidewalks, and a roundabout—but the improvements stopped at the bridge structure itself. Cyclists were surprised to see that despite a seven-month full road closure, Fort Collins, Timnath, and Larimer County made no improvements to the approaches on either side.

Then, in June 2024, and after 2 years of emails and sometimes contentious phone calls from YGR to the City of Fort Collins, the city finally repaved Kechter Road and installed bike lanes west of I-25. The original plan was to complete both sides, but on the eve of construction, it was discovered that the Town of Timnath had annexed the east side of Kechter in February.

That last-minute jurisdictional discovery brought Eastside improvements to a halt. Timnath, now responsible for that stretch, has repeatedly refused to resurface the remaining 128 feet of shoulder near where Studt was struck. Instead, the town says the area will be upgraded someday by a future adjacent development, potentially 10 years away.

In a face-to-face meeting last fall and through several follow-up emails, YGR pressed the Town of Timnath for action. In response, Kim Koivuniemi, Senior Civil Engineer for the town, issued the following statement:

“Thanks for reaching out, and for the opportunity to comment. We recognize the significance of this upcoming anniversary and the concerns surrounding this portion of Kechter Road.

While this section remains under Timnath’s jurisdiction, improvements are currently being designed by the adjacent development as part of their required infrastructure work. Although that timeline is still unfolding, this is a key step toward addressing the gap you’ve identified.

We understand the safety concerns and the visibility of this stretch of road, especially given its history. Timnath is committed to long-term improvements that support safety for all users, including cyclists. While we don’t yet have a construction start date, the Town will continue working with partners and developers to advance this work as efficiently as possible.”

Let that sink in: not a mile, not half a mile, not even a quarter-mile—just 128 feet of missing shoulder. The lengths of two semis.

Two less than the length of two semi trucks

Missed Opportunities and Mixed Messages

This short gap in infrastructure continues to endanger cyclists. Riders traveling westbound are still forced into traffic at the precise location where Studt was hit. Despite multiple opportunities—including a full road closure, a bridge rebuild, and fresh city investment—the problem persists.

On December 16, 2016, the driver, Jose Pinon, was sentenced to 90 days in the Larimer County Jail, four years of probation, and 600 hours of useful public service for killing Steven Studt. At sentencing, Chief Judge Stephen Schapanski acknowledged the lingering tension between motorists and cyclists in Northern Colorado.

Cyclists navigate the dangerous stretch of road directly adjacent to where Stephen Studt was killed 10 years ago.

Still Waiting

This isn’t about building a new bike path. It’s not about fancy infrastructure. It’s about 128 feet of 3-foot shoulder—a basic safety feature that could prevent another fatal crash.

The Town of Timnath must stop hiding behind future developer promises and start acting like a responsible jurisdiction. If ten years isn’t long enough to finish 128 feet of road, how many more are we willing to wait?

While a developer is responsible for future improvements the town of Timnath is responsible to maintain the stretch of road.

It’s worth noting that CDOT is responsible for the shoulder on the south side of this section of Kechter Road, which is in equally poor condition. However, since cyclists are traveling at roughly the same speed as traffic, taking the lane is somewhat less hazardous.

Take Action

Please take a moment to contact the following responsible parties.

Copy and paste addresses- CDOT not included.

kkoivuniemi@timnathgov.com, jstone@timnathgov.com , aadams@timnathgov.com, publiccomment@timnathgov.com

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