Daytime Closures of Clear Creek Canyon begin next week
Jan. 3, 2019 - The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) resumes rock mitigation work in Clear Creek Canyon next week, requiring full closures of U.S. 6 west of Golden.
TRAVEL IMPACTS
Beginning on Monday, Jan. 7, the 12-mile segment of Highway 6 between the junction of Colorado Highways 93 & 58 in Golden and CO 119 will be closed to all traffic, as follows:
· Monday through Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· Thursday: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The closure schedule is weather-dependent.
Interstate 70 is the alternate route while U.S. 6 is closed to traffic. Access to Black Hawk and Central City is available by using the Central City Parkway (Exit 243) or by traveling east on Highway 6 (Exit 244) and then north on CO. 119.
Access to Centennial Cone Park at the Mayhem Gulch Trailhead and the Peaks to Plains Trail at the Big Easy Trailhead still will be available at the west end of the canyon. However, there will be no parking or access for recreational use in the work zone during project hours.
Apex Rockfall Mitigation of Grand Junction is the project contractor.
PROJECT PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
The $3 million project is necessary to enhance driver safety and prevent natural rockslides by strengthening the rock walls above the highway. Construction includes rock-scaling, removal of scaled rock, and the installation of rock reinforcements, rock anchors, mesh anchors, and 160,000 square-feet of wire mesh. The first project phase was completed in April 2018, with crews removing about 35,000 tons of rock, installing around 125,000 square feet of wire mesh and 125 mesh anchors. This second project phase is scheduled for completion in April 2019.
