State Highway 14 Open Today at Noon After Closure Due to High Park Fire

LARIMIER COUNTY – Today, Saturday, June 30, 2012 at noon, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will reopen State Highway (SH) 14 to all traffic after it was closed June 11 due to the High Park Fire. Although the fire is not yet fully contained, CDOT crews have determined that the highway is usable at this time.

Although CDOT crews are performing ongoing roadway safety checks throughout the impacted area, motorists are reminded that SH 14 is within an active fire zone and road conditions can change quickly. Drivers should reduce their speeds and use extra caution when driving on SH 14 to ensure their safety. The risk of mudslides, washouts, rockfall, and rocks/debris/trees in the road is extremely high.

Throughout the burn zone, the condition of the highway will be continuously changing. With so much burn damage to the land near the highway, there is potential for mudslides and washouts during and after rain storms. Related to these mudslides and washouts is the potential for new rocks/debris/fallen trees to be dragged onto the highway. Drivers should call Colorado State Patrol dispatch to report any damage to the highway that threatens public safety. The phone number is 303-239-4501.

Crews will continue to assess the condition of the highway to understand future repair needs. However, the extent of the upcoming repairs is not known at this time. There will be lasting impacts of the fire for years to come, as the long-term drainage of SH 14 was compromised and debris from the fire will be shifting and resettling as weather conditions change each season.

The damage to the residences/businesses within the closure zone was devastating, as was the damage sustained to the land and wilderness area surrounding the highway. Motorists are advised that wildlife will be on the move in greater abundance than usual and should be alert for wildlife crossing the roadway.

Emergency personnel remain in the area, as well as significant numbers of emergency service vehicles, so please drive with caution and move over as quickly and safely as possible if you see flashing lights ahead or behind you.

Even though the highway will be open to the public, most county roads, forest service roads, picnic areas, campgrounds, and trailheads along SH 14 will be closed. For more information about closures of Larimer county roads, visit www.larimer.org, http://larimersheriff.org/site-page/high-park-fire-road-information, or http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2904. Public information is also available at the Larimer County Emergency Information Line at 970-498-5500. For information regarding closures of roads and campgrounds in Roosevelt National Forest, call 970-498-5500 or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/arp.

Photos of the fire, damage to the highway, and potential threats are available on CDOT’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot in the “High Park Fire – State Highway 14” album.

To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Updates are also available via Twitter at @coloradodot.