The town of Bow Mar, a community of roughly 900 residents nestled on the northern edge of the Denver metro area, has approved a plan to install a gate on South Sheridan Boulevard. The gate, slated for installation in the coming weeks, would restrict access to the town’s public roads to Bow Mar residents, emergency responders and other authorized parties.
Town’s Rationale
Bow Mar officials say the gate is needed to protect local streets from speeding out‑of‑towners, citing a recent crash into the town’s lake and a series of close calls. In addition to the Sheridan gate, the town intends to close Tufts Avenue at its junction with South Sheridan and has provisionally approved a second gate on West Belleview Avenue. The combined projects are funded with more than $300,000 in town‑allocated money.
Denver and Littleton’s Legal Challenge
Denver District Court received a lawsuit today from the cities of Denver and Littleton seeking an injunction to block the Sheridan gate and any future gates, and to recover the plaintiffs’ attorney fees. The complaint argues that the closures will inconvenience residents of both neighboring cities, forcing drivers to take longer routes to reach the intersection of Sheridan and West Quincy Avenue, where they currently rely on a protected left‑hand turn.
“This will lead to unsafe conditions for Denver and Littleton residents who are no longer able to utilize the traffic signal at Sheridan – a signal that was paid for and is maintained by Denver,” the joint press release read. The cities also contend that the gate will hamper emergency response for Denver and Littleton fire and medical crews.
Officials Respond
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said, “Bow Mar doesn’t get to decide what is or isn’t a public road, and they don’t get to make life less safe for Denver and Littleton drivers. As mayor it’s my responsibility to ensure residents receive the services they paid for, and we are ready to go to court – and if necessary, beyond – to ensure the roads stay open.”
Littleton officials echoed the concern, noting that the town would be forced to maintain a segment of Belleview Avenue that would primarily benefit Bow Mar residents if a gate were installed.
Legal Grounds
The lawsuit alleges Bow Mar violated a state law that permits public streets to be closed only temporarily. It further argues the town cannot invoke a “public safety” justification because the measure merely shifts traffic danger onto neighboring streets, encroaching on Denver’s right‑of‑way on Sheridan.
Bow Mar certifies roughly 9.2 miles of its streets as public roads to the state, receiving over $30,000 annually from state gas‑tax funds for maintenance and a $455,000 federal grant in 2025 to pave those roads. Denver, by contrast, spent $2 million in 2005 to rebuild the Quincy‑Sheridan intersection that would be affected by the gate.
Town’s Position
When approached for comment, Bow Mar spokesperson Bill Rigler declined to speak, indicating the town will respond as the legal process unfolds.
Potential Impact
If the court grants the injunction, Bow Mar would be required to keep its streets open to the public and could face financial penalties for the attorney fees incurred by Denver and Littleton. Conversely, a ruling in favor of the town could set a precedent for small municipalities to control access to their roadways, raising questions about the balance between local autonomy and regional traffic safety.
Both sides have offered alternative solutions, including targeted police enforcement on dangerous drivers and exploring detour routes, but those proposals have not yet resolved the dispute.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
