Next Week's Schedule for Debris Removal From Flood-Impacted Highways

December 20, 2013 - Northeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 4 - All flood-related debris will be removed from CDOT right-of-way.

BOULDER, JEFFERSON, LARIMER, AND WELD COUNTIES — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contractor Phillips and Jordan, Inc. continue to collect debris from flood-impacted state highways. Residents who live on the flooded highways are urged to bring their flood-related debris to just off the pavement next to the highway, where it will be picked up over the next few weeks.

Debris crews will be working from now through Sunday, December 22, 2013 and will resume operations on Friday, January 3, 2014 after a break over the holidays. This weekend work will continue in the following areas:

  • State Highway (SH) 7 near Lyons
  • On and around CDOT structures (bridges, culverts, etc.) on US 34, SH 7, SH 60, SH 119, SH 257. and SH 287.

The next pass of right-of-way debris removal from impacted corridors (US 34, US 36, SH 7, SH 60, SH 66, SH 72, and SH 119) will begin on or around Friday, January 3 and continue through January 11 on the following routes:  US 34, US 36, SH 7, SH 66, SH 72, and SH 119.  The following routes will also be covered as needed: SH 52, SH 119, and SH 170. Please attempt to have your flood-generated debris ready for pick up by this time.

The final pass is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 27 on all routes identified above on an as-needed basis. CDOT will continue to update the public as the schedule changes.

Guidelines

  • Debris piles should be three feet from the side of the highway to allow for any snow removal operations.
  • Do not block the roadway, waterways or any culverts with debris.
  • Please have all eligible debris to the roadside by January 6, 2014

Debris crews will not access private property or city/county roads to pick up debris, so residents will need to place any flood-related debris right along the edge of the highway to have it removed.

The following is a guideline of the materials that will be removed from CDOT right-of-way:

Flood-damaged debris that will be picked up:

  • Vegetation waste: Branches, plants, trees and grass

o   CDOT requests that vegetative materials be separated from other materials in piles of six feet in length or less for easier pickup.

  • Construction & demolition waste: Wood framing from houses, furniture, carpet, clothes, concrete, etc.
  • White waste: Appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers & dryers, hot water heaters, dishwashers and microwave ovens
  • Electronic waste: Computers, televisions, DVD players, telephones, and microwave ovens
  • Household hazardous waste: Paints, cleaners, solvents, propane tanks, petroleum products, etc.
  • Car waste: Car parts including batteries

What will not be picked up:

  • Regular household garbage. This should be disposed of in your dumpsters and removed by your waste management provider.

How to prepare vegetative (woody) and construction & demolition (C&D) debris for pickup:

  • Debris piles should be 3ft from the side of the roadway so it can be reached and collected and to allow for any snow removal operations and to make sure it is out of the travel lane.
  • Residents are urged to separate the debris into piles by type by material, and not all debris will be removed at once due to the size of trucks hauling materials and the amount of materials in a given area.
  • Separate the vegetative and C&D debris into different piles.
  • You do not need to bundle the piles or cut them to length. They will be picked up. However, more manageable lengths (six feet or less) are easier to pick up.
  • Do not place piles near obstructions (mailboxes, hydrants, trees) in case a clam bucket is used to pick up the pile.
  • Putting small amounts of C&D and horticultural waste (less than 50 pounds) in cans instead of piles also is helpful.
  • If time and weather permit debris collection trucks may make multiple trips up and down roads. However, we encourage residents to move debris to the road as soon as possible. There is no harm in leaving a debris pile near the roadway for a week or more before the truck makes it to your area.

Once collected, debris is taken directly to local landfills for final disposal or to CDOT properties to be reduced and eventually used for construction or slope stabilization. Any vehicle materials found in debris piles will be searched for a VIN number, and if a VIN is found, CDOT will keep it on record. Citizens still searching for their vehicles post-flood can contact CDOT to see if their vehicle has been recovered.

For questions about the debris removal process, please visit the CDOT flood information website atwww.coloradodot.info/travel/floodinfoupdates. Members of the public can also email [email protected], or speak to someone directly at 720-263-1589. For toll-free call 1-800-999-4997.

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. Information about weekly lane closures will be available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. Live road conditions are available at www.cotrip.org or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.