CDOT to Hold Public Meeting in Winter Park for New Avalanche Control Pilot Project
CLEAR CREEK/GILPIN/GRAND COUNTIES — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) invites members of the public to attend an informational meeting regarding the upcoming avalanche control pilot project for US 40 over Berthoud Pass. CDOT is partnering with numerous local agencies as part of the upcoming project, including Clear Creek County, Grand County, the town of Winter Park, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, and Winter Park Resort.
“During the pilot project, CDOT will be looking to improve the safety, reliability, and predictability of avalanche mitigation on US 40 over Berthoud Pass by investigating the viability of an automated avalanche system,” said CDOT Project Manager Peter Kozinski. “The system will use devices installed along known avalanche paths to proactively trigger and control avalanches as opposed to the current mitigation technique, which requires using fired ground munitions or those dropped by helicopters to reactively trigger and control avalanches.”
The public meeting will be held Saturday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Winter Park Town Hall located at 50 Vasquez Road. During the meeting, members of the public will be able to learn and discuss how CDOT currently mitigates for avalanches and the safety protocol that is followed; learn about automated avalanche systems; discuss the perceived pros and cons of an automated avalanche system pilot project on US 40 over Berthoud Pass; and provide input on safety protocols to be used during the pilot project.
“We highly encourage the public to attend and participate in this meeting,” said Kozinski. “For those who can’t attend this meeting, comments and questions can be sent to me at[email protected].”
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