US 36 Between Lyons and Estes Park Now Open to a Single Alternating Lane of Traffic Via Pilot Car
BOULDER, LARIMER COUNTIES — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Federal Highway Administration – Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD), and contractor American Civil Constructors, Inc. have reopened US 36 to a single alternating lane of traffic at mile post 17.6. Earlier today, the second of 20 different three hour delays for blasting was extended significantly when two large boulders, one the size of an excavator and the other double that size, came down during routine rockfall mitigation work and rendered the highway impassable.
Effective immediately, all motorists will be escorted through the area via pilot car throughout the night and through the morning commute tomorrow (which will end at 8 a.m.). Crews have made certain that varying types of motorists can pass through the area with the pilot car tomorrow morning, including the school buses taking children to Lyons tomorrow morning, however tractor trailers will not fit through the pathway and should use the State Highway 7 detour route. The majority of the smaller rocks have been moved from the area, and a path has been created around the two large boulders that are currently blocking the road. Motorists will be directed through the path (which is near the river channel) very slowly, as the road is rough, until 8 a.m. when the crews will begin working to break apart the extremely large boulders. More information will be forthcoming, but another full closure is possible at that time.
Crews will be working all night to maintain safety in the area, and motorists should plan for lengthier delays during the morning commute from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. State Highway 7 remains the detour route between Estes Park to Lyons for those who can use it. Motorists are thanks extensively for their patience and understanding, and are reminded to drive Slow for the Cone Zone!
For additional questions or comments about the US 36 repairs project, please contact [email protected] or call the project hotline at 970-591-0001. Further information about the project is also available on the project website at www.coloradodot.info/projects/floodrelatedprojects/us-36-lyons-to-estes. Motorists are encouraged to sign up for email updates about the project by clicking on the green cell phone icon on the right hand side of the project website.
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.
