Fires, Floods, Snow extremes
Breaking news about Wild Land Fires & Floods and snow storms in the Boulder, Colorado area.
Gov. Hickenlooper shuts down U.S. 36 west of Lyons
Sep 22nd
In a rather draconian move, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announced this afternoon that the State of Colorado has contracted with a Colo. National Guard engineering company to rebuild U.S. 36 between Lyons and Estes Park. Work on the highway has begun from both directions – from the Town of Lyons and the Town of Estes Park – with similar equipment and crews working towards each other.
In an effort to expedite construction, all traffic on U.S. 36 west of Lyons is prohibited, effectively immediately.
Beginning Monday, all access to Apple Valley Rd will be severely restricted between the hours of 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The closure applies to vehicular, cycling, and pedestrian traffic. The closures will specifically impact residents of Spring Gulch and Blue Mountain areas. Also, until this project is completed there will be no vehicular, cycling, or pedestrian access to Pinewood Springs.
At this time, there is no estimated timeline for completion of this project. We hope to be able to provide that information soon.
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Free transportation will be provided to flood victims seeking disaster center help
Sep 22nd
Increased traffic and the lack of transportation options in the mountains and foothills of Boulder County continues to be a problem for our residents and road & utility work crews. Similarly, residents impacted by the flood may have difficulty getting to one of the disaster assistance centers, either in Boulder or Longmont.
In order to alleviate some of the congestion and isolation issues of getting to and from Boulder from our mountain communities, and to assist residents getting to or from a disaster assistance center, VIA, RTD, City of Boulder and Boulder County are working together to provide accessible transportation options for plains and mountain residents affected by the flood.
Transportation to/from Disaster Assistance Centers and for basic needs
From Sept. 21 through Oct. 17, Boulder County’s nonprofit Via Mobility Services will provide flood victims with free on-demand transportation to Boulder County’s disaster assistance centers, as long as Via staff can safely reach the pickup locations. This free service will also be provided to the disaster assistance center in Estes Park. To schedule a ride, call 303-447-9636 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Via will also provide free on-demand transportation for any flood victim in its service area to access healthcare, food, employment, or other essential services to help stabilize their lives. Via can also provide information about mobility options and referral to other transportation resources that may be available in local communities. Call 303-447-2848 ext. 1014 or email egallegos@viacolorado.org for more information.
Mountain community transportation updates
Beginning Monday, Sept. 23:
- The Climb bus will resume service with a modified route from Gold Hill Road through Sunshine Canyon Drive to the Boulder Transit Center. The Climb is operated by Via. Please see www.the-climb.org for additional route and schedule information.
- In collaboration with RTD and Boulder County, Via will also provide two mid-day routes from Boulder to Nederland through Sunshine Canyon Drive using four-wheel-drive paratransit vehicles.
- RTD’s reconstituted large coach N route, will provide early morning and late afternoon between Nederland and Boulder via Highway 119 and Blackhawk. See www.viacolorado.org or www.rtd-denver.com for more information.
Via Mobility Services
Via is a private, nonprofit organization providing on-demand transportation, individual, and group travel training and mobility options information and referral. For more information, please visit www.viacolorado.orgor call 303-447-2848.
—www.bouldercountyflood.org and www.boulderfloodinfo.net—
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Flooded homes to get rapid evaluations
Sep 22nd
On Monday, Sept. 23, City of Boulder building inspection staff, along with certified inspectors from the Colorado Chapter of the International Code Council, will begin rapid evaluations of flood-damaged properties. The rapid evaluations will begin in the areas that were most impacted by recent flooding and will be focused in the 100-year flood, high-hazard, and conveyance zones. If your property was affected by the September 2013 flood but is not located in one of these designated floodplain zones, you may call 303-441-1880 to request an assessment.
Inspectors will use specific criteria to check for potential safety threats that are visible from the exterior of flood-damaged properties. After the inspectors have completed an evaluation, they will place one of three colored placards on the property, near the main entrance.
- Green “INSPECTED” placards confirm that a property has been inspected and is safe to occupy.
- Yellow “RESTRICTED USE” placards inform occupants of concerns related to the structure, electrical (power), or mechanical (gas). These placards will include a description of how and why the use is limited. Properties that are restricted to limited uses will require a more detailed evaluation before occupants are allowed to use the entire building.
- Red “UNSAFE” placards inform occupants that a property is unsafe to enter and that substantial measures may be necessary to make the building safe to occupy. A red placard is not a demolition order.
Please allow these placards to remain on the property for at least one week, or until you have been notified otherwise by a City of Boulder representative. If you have any questions about the rapid evaluation process, please contact Planning and Development Services at 303-441-1880.
— CITY —
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