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CDOT Announces Culvert Improvements In Poudre Canyon

Grace Hood
/
KUNC

In an effort to reduce future road closures and maintenance emergencies in the Poudre Canyon, The Colorado Department of Transportation is replacing or expanding six culverts in the area.

The project is designed to improve existing drainage while removing fallen trees and debris before it has a chance to flow into the canyon.

In a statement, CDOT Project Manager Justin Pipe says the project will reduce road closures, and "maintenance emergencies regularly occurring along the corridor during inclement weather." He says it will also help improve the safety of the highway.

Since the 2012 High Park Fire, State Highway 14 from Ted’s Place through the canyon has seen a significant change in landscape. The absence of vegetation has made hillsides unstable and the chance of recurring mudslides and washouts has increased.

Credit Nathan Heffel / KUNC
/
KUNC
Larimer County has replaced and expanded culverts in Rist Canyon following the High Park Fire.

CDOT says the impact of the High Park Fire on area vegetation could continue for the next five years at least.

Crews will replace and/or expand culverts at mile marker (MM) 102, MM 105.71, MM 106.24, MM 111.49, MM 114.92, and MM 115.43.

CDOT says work will require areas of the highway to be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic:

Only one direction of traffic will be able to travel through the work zone at a time, and this configuration will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days a week, with signals timed at two minute increments. On occasion, flaggers may be present to hold traffic at 10 minute increments or less. Crews will work on the project from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and on Fridays from 6 a.m. until noon. Work hours were determined to provide the least impact to resident and tourist travel. No more than two sites will be under construction at a time in order to keep delays to 20 minutes or less during work hours and no more than five minutes during non-working hours. 

CDOT will hold a public open house Tuesday, September 10 at 6 p.m. at the Poudre Park Community Center in Fort Collins.  Officials will review the upcoming $2.35 million project and discuss traffic impacts for area businesses and residents.

Members of the public are encouraged to e-mail publicinfo@accbuilt.com to receive a meeting reminder.

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