Full closures of CO 74 between Morrison and Idledale to begin Sept. 8 for rockfall mitigation project

NEWS RELEASE POSTED ON BEHALF OF CDOT:

Full closures of CO 74 between Morrison and Idledale to begin Sept. 8 for rockfall mitigation project
Detour routes will remain in place during working hours through February 2021

PROJECT OVERVIEW
In early September, the Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Midwest Rockfall, Inc. will begin a rockfall mitigation project in Bear
Creek Canyon, which is along Colorado Highway 74 between Morrison and Idledale. Work will involve week day full closures on CO 74 from Mile Point
16.1 to MP 18.
The project will enhance safety for motorists and cyclists along CO 74 with a goal of preventing roadway damage or unexpected closures caused by a
natural rockslide. Crews will conduct rock scaling operations, install anchored wire mesh and other rock reinforcement, and use polyurethane injections
which is an innovative technology applied to fill the void between loose rocks.
Due to the nature of rockfall mitigation, full closures must occur for the safety of the traveling public. This part of CO 74 is a narrow canyon with
limited areas for crews to maneuver equipment and the rock scaling operations may result in some rockfall on the roadway, which is why full closures
are necessary during work hours.

PROJECT SCHEDULE
Work is scheduled to begin Sept. 2 and continue through Feb. 2021. However, these operations are weather and temperature dependent, and this
schedule could change.
The full closures will begin Tuesday, Sept. 8 and occur during working hours, Mondays through Thursdays from 4:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Fridays
from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No weekend work or closures are anticipated.

TRAVEL IMPACTS

• On Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Thursday, Sept. 3, crews will place traffic in a single-lane configuration on CO 74 with flaggers on site from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. This work is for the project team to set up the site for the upcoming full closures. Motorists can expect delays of up to 20 minutes.
• Starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, there will be full closures of CO 74 between Morrison and Idedale (MP 16.1 -18) in place during working hours.
• Typical working hours will be 4:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. No weekend work or closures are anticipated. This schedule will remain in effect through Feb. 2021. (weather dependent)
• Motorists are advised to follow the detour signs and seek alternate routes. Interstate 70 is the general detour route for east and westbound motorists.
•  Local traffic on CO 74 can take Parmalee Gulch Rd southbound from Kittredge and use US 285 to connect with C-470, or head northbound via S Grapevine Road from Idledale to connect with I-70. Please note the county roads (Parmalee Gulch and S Grapevine) are for local traffic only. Trucks or large vehicles should detour via I-70.
• Cyclists are prohibited from riding through the construction zone during the working hours listed above.
• Fishing in the creek below the work site will be “fish at your own risk”

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
Sign up to receive regular project updates via email. If you have questions or comments, please contact us! Phone: 720-572-4476 Email: CO74Rockfall@gmail.com Project Webpage: www.codot.gov/projects/co-74- rockmitigation-jeffco