Ute Pass Flood Mitigation Project Nearing Completion

May 2, 2014 - Southeast Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - EL PASO COUNTY – A Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) project designed to improve water flow under U.S. 24 is nearly complete, allowing traffic to return to its original, four-lane configuration at Waldo Canyon, about one mile west of Manitou Springs.

Traffic is expected to revert back to two lanes in each direction sometime tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Although the majority of the work is complete, some finishing operations still may take place, requiring temporary lane or shoulder closures over the next two to three weeks.

The extra-large concrete box culvert is designed to carry excessive amounts of water. Measuring 24 feet wide and 10 feet high, the culvert is ten times larger than the 72 inch metal pipe it replaced. Work began in February 2014.

“This was another one of the steps we took to help mitigate the flooding that’s been occurring on Ute Pass during rain storms,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Dave Watt. “The oversized culvert now will allow heavy water flow, debris and mud to pass under the highway, not over it, removing one more hazard to the traveling public.”

Wildcat Construction Co. of Colorado Springs was the prime contractor for the $1.4 million project.