Posts tagged hazards
Boulder County: Updated transportation maps and a roads hotline available
Oct 3rd
ROADS HOTLINE
In addition to keeping an updated map and chart of Boulder County road closures, Boulder County has established a “Roads Hotline” at 303-441-3928 (staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday). Residents and visitors with questions about county roads, culverts and bridges damaged by the flood can call this number for information.
GPS & MAPPING
The unprecedented destruction of roads and private property in Boulder County, especially in the central foothills and mountain areas, has rendered many roads impassable to public traffic. GPS devices and online mapping services may not be keeping up with road closures on a “real time” basis. The safest bet to ensure an accurate picture of open roadways in Boulder County is to check the Road Closures page on www.BoulderCountyFlood.org.
PUBLIC SAFETY & ROAD MAINTENANCE
Boulder County officials have made it an immediate priority to repair and reconstruct county roads and bridges damaged in the flood. Mountain residents are asked to minimize trips into and out of damaged areas to allow road crews to do repairs. Additionally, visitors and plains residents are requested to curtail recreation in the mountain areasbetween these points:
- U.S. 36 (Foothills Hwy) and Hwy 72/Hwy 7 (Peak to Peak) (central west and northwest Boulder County)
- Hwy 93/Hwy 7 and Hwy 72/Hwy 119 (southwest Boulder County)
Travel is permissible along the Peak to Peak Highway, north to south. Visitors can access the Towns of Nederland and Allenspark in Boulder County and Estes Park in Larimer County along Peak to Peak Highway (SH 72/119/7).
“It is incredibly difficult to rebuild roads with people on them, so please avoid the damaged mountain roads unless absolutely necessary, and minimize even residential trips to keep roads clear for heavy equipment and emergency vehicles,” said George Gerstle, Boulder County Transportation Director. “It is difficult and takes much longer for the crews to fix a road with traffic on it. The fewer people using the road, the faster we can get the work done.”
COUNTY ROAD REPAIRS
Boulder County Transportation is receiving many questions about when county roads in the unincorporated areas will be repaired and permanently restored. Recognizing that restoring all damaged facilities to pre-flood condition is an enormous task, the county is currently conducting a comprehensive damage assessment that will help establish long-term priorities and plans for infrastructure restoration.
County Transportation is currently working on several parallel tracks to restore immediate access, ensure public safety, and develop long term priorities and plans for infrastructure restoration:
- Residential Mountain Access: County road crews are working to restore minimal safe access to areas that are currently inaccessible. This activity is taking place largely in the mountain areas so that residents can inspect homes and utilities can be restored. The county will continue working to maintain minimal safe access to mountain areas through the winter.
- Damage Assessment: The County has completed damage assessments for approximately 67% of its road and bridge facilities. Most of the facilities still to be assessed for damage are in mountain areas that remain inaccessible. County road crews are constructing 4 wheel drive/ATV accesses to these areas so that the county can assess current conditions and flood damage.
- Road and Bridge Restoration: For road and bridge facilities where damage is known, the County is developing cost estimates in order to design and construct permanent repair and replacement facilities. Right now this primarily involves roads and bridges on the plains in eastern Boulder County. Due to the impending winter season, construction will take place predominantly in the spring. However, if there is construction activity that can be undertaken during the winter effectively and appropriate, the county will pursue this possibility.
- Stabilizing Bridges: There are several bridges and roads that sustained damage due to creeks leaving their pre-flood channels. The County is working to realign and restore creeks in select places where doing so presents further damage and allows existing bridges to function as they were intended.
SNOW REMOVAL
As winter approaches, crews will plow roads and keep roads open to the best extent possible. However, there may be a need for new and additional closures, should snowfall be heavy. In the mountains, residents will need to be extremely cautious as roads, particularly those that now provide minimal safe access, may be subject to wash-out conditions and require frequent repairs.
For public safety reasons and in order to allow crews to do their work, Boulder County’s Road Maintenance Division is requesting motorists to please be aware of the following issues.
- Drive slowly and carefully; hazards that previously could be seen and avoided may be hidden after a snowfall.
- Many roads are only one lane in places which will require extra diligence and courtesy on every driver’s part.
- Give the right of way to oncoming snow removal equipment, it will be much easier for a car or pickup to find a location to stop or pull over than it will be for our large snow removal equipment.
- Be aware that county roads that are not affected by damage may experience minor delays for snow removal due to diverted resources.
- Allow extra time for travel in those areas affected by the flood rough roads, steep shoulder drop offs, single lane roads, visibility and other hazards will require everyone’s attention and vigilance.
Boulder County Transportation Snow Removal Information
Oct 2nd
Boulder County, Colo. – As a result of the recent flooding in Boulder County, local roads range from no-impact to single-lane four wheel drive access only. Many areas of the county remain inaccessible to vehicular travel due to road damage or continuing high water levels. With predictions for snowfall as early as overnight on Thursday, Boulder County Road Maintenance crews are preparing alternative methods for snow removal along flood-damaged routes.
Boulder County Transportation will strive to provide the best snow removal possible despite extenuating circumstances along the county’s flood-ravaged road system. However, roads that remain in poor condition will not support previously-used snow equipment. For example, road crews will not be able to use truck snow plows on uneven surfaces; these roads will now require graders to complete this task. Plowing routes with graders will add substantial time to complete the accustomed level of snow removal.
In order to provide the safest and fastest snow removal services possible, Boulder County’s Road Maintenance Division is requesting motorists to please be aware of the following issues.
· Drive slowly and carefully; hazards that previously could be seen and avoided may be hidden after a snowfall.
· Many roads are only one lane in places which will require extra diligence and courtesy on every driver’s part.
· Give the right of way to oncoming snow removal equipment, it will be much easier for a car or pickup to find a location to stop or pull over than it will be for our large snow removal equipment.
· Be aware that county roads that are not affected by damage may experience minor delays for snow removal due to diverted resources.
· Allow extra time for travel in those areas affected by the flood rough roads, steep shoulder drop offs, single lane roads, visibility and other hazards will require everyone’s attention and vigilance.
Due to resources and closure of recreational areas Brainard Lake Drive will not be plowed. In addition the following roads, or portions of roads, will not be plowed due to damage or accessibility:
· Lefthand Canyon between the lower Lefthand fire station (#1) and Sawmill Road
· Lefthand through the town of Ward
· James Canyon between Lefthand Canyon and Jamestown
· Balarat Road
· Gold Run Road between Salina and Summerville
· Lee Hill Road between Deer Trail Road and Lefthand Canyon
· Wagonwheel Gap Road
· Pinto Drive
· CR 82E from Cabin Creek Road to the Boulder and Larimer County line
· Pika Road from Bison Drive to Coney Court
For current road closure information as a result of flooding, visit: www.BoulderCountyFlood.org.
For additional information about snow removal, contact Road Maintenance at 303-441-3962.
Seven more OSMP trails opened Friday
Sep 27th
The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department opened more trails near Chautauqua, along with several other area trailheads today. On Friday, OSMP opened:
- Enchanted Mesa trail
- Four Pines trail
- McClintock trail
- Kohler Mesa Trail to the Four Pines junction
- Woods Quarry trail
- Bobolink trailhead and the South Boulder Creek bike path to the East Boulder Recreation Center
- Flatirons Vista trailhead. A portion of the Flatirons Vista South trail remains closed.
- Foothills trailhead. Visitors can park there to access Boulder Valley Ranch and Mesa Reservoir trails. However, the Hogback Ridge remains closed.
All open OSMP trails are listed at http://bit.ly/15msF85 and at BoulderFloodInfo.net. Newly opened trails are currently accessible from dawn to dusk, and visitors must remain on-trail because of potential hazards and safety risks. OSMP stresses that the re-opened trails are substantially different from pre-flood conditions.
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