Full Closure of CO 7 Lower Canyon begins Septemer 20

Travel Advisory

August 30, 2021 - Northeastern Colorado - CDOT begins final flood recovery project

Boulder County — On Sept. 20 at 8 a.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation will close Colorado Highway 7 between Mile Points 23 and 29.5 for permanent flood repairs. The closure of CO 7 (Lower) Canyon will remain in place through Memorial Day 2022. 

Full Closure of CO 7 Lower Canyon begins Sept. 20 CDOT begins final flood recovery project Boulder County — On Sept. 20 at 8 a.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation will close Colorado Highway 7 between Mile Points 23 and 29.5 for permanent flood repairs. The closure of CO 7 (Lower) Canyon will remain in place through Memorial Day 2022. There will be “scheduled openings” for all traffic from 6-8 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. daily, including weekends. During these timeframes, pilot cars will lead alternating one-way travel. Drivers should plan for delays and the team has planned to ensure that emergency responder access is maintained at all times. Due to work zone conditions, cycling, kayaking, hiking and climbing will be closed between MP 23-29.5 at all times during the closure. This schedule was presented to the communities at the virtual public meeting on Aug. 3 and CDOT has actively been coordinating with residents near the closure. The closure strategy was selected by community agency representatives because the closure coincides with the months of lowest traffic volumes on CO 7. While impactful, the alternative to this full closure would have involved alternating one-way travel on CO 7 with long, unpredictable traffic queues for several years. While CO 7 is closed, drivers will need to use US 36 or US 34 to travel to and from Estes Park and Lyons. The project team has coordinated with local schools, mail/delivery services and emergency responders. After Memorial Day 2022, traffic impacts will be minimal with single-lane closures and intermittent delays through Fall 2022. The goals of this project are to maintain access during future flood events, build a safe system accommodating multi-modal transportation options and work in harmony with ecological river functions in the corridor. The permanent repair project will: Resurface and repair approximately 14 miles of roadway Rehabilitate several miles of the St. Vrain Creek disturbed during the emergency repairs Improve multi-modal mobility options along the corridor Build in resiliency to improve future emergency access during floods This is the state’s final 2013 Flood recovery permanent repair project. The canyon sustained significant damage during the 2013 disaster, with nine miles of roadway severely damaged or lost entirely, and debris flows that prevented access for nearly 2 1/2 months. An emergency repair project reestablished traffic and operations quickly but did not complete repairs to final grades or restore the highway to appropriate transportation safety standards. This is a $55 million to $60 million 2013 Emergency Relief (ER) project that is fully supported by federal emergency relief funds. STAY INFORMED Travelers can obtain information about this closure and construction project by: Visit our website codot.gov/projects/co7 Hotline 720-912-8870 Email CO7info@kiewit.com See scheduled lane closures: codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html Connect with us on social media: Twitter @coloradodot and Facebook facebook.com/coloradodot REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones. ● Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits. ● Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected. ● Watch for workers. Drive with caution. ● Don't change lanes unnecessarily. ● Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones. ● Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you. ● Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones. ● Expect delays, especially during peak travel times. ● Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you. ● Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so. ● Be patient! About CDOT CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely. Our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.

There will be “scheduled openings” for all traffic from 6-8 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. daily, including weekends. During these timeframes, pilot cars will lead alternating one-way travel. Drivers should plan for delays and the team has planned to ensure that emergency responder access is maintained at all times. Due to work zone conditions, cycling, kayaking, hiking and climbing will be closed between MP 23-29.5 at all times during the closure. 

This schedule was presented to the communities at the virtual public meeting on Aug. 3 and CDOT has actively been coordinating with residents near the closure. The closure strategy was selected by community agency representatives because the closure coincides with the months of lowest traffic volumes on CO 7. While impactful, the alternative to this full closure would have involved alternating one-way travel on CO 7 with long, unpredictable traffic queues for several years. While CO 7 is closed, drivers will need to use US 36 or US 34 to travel to and from Estes Park and Lyons. The project team has coordinated with local schools, mail/delivery services and emergency responders. 

After Memorial Day 2022, traffic impacts will be minimal with single-lane closures and intermittent delays through Fall 2022.

The goals of this project are to maintain access during future flood events, build a safe system accommodating multi-modal transportation options and work in harmony with ecological river functions in the corridor. 

The permanent repair project will: 

  • Resurface and repair approximately 14 miles of roadway

  • Rehabilitate several miles of the St. Vrain Creek disturbed during the emergency repairs

  • Improve multi-modal mobility options along the corridor 

  • Build in resiliency to improve future emergency access during floods 

This is the state’s final 2013 Flood recovery permanent repair project. The canyon sustained significant damage during the 2013 disaster, with nine miles of roadway severely damaged or lost entirely, and debris flows that prevented access for nearly 2 1/2 months. An emergency repair project reestablished traffic and operations quickly but did not complete repairs to final grades or restore the highway to appropriate transportation safety standards. This is a $55 million to $60 million 2013 Emergency Relief (ER) project that is fully supported by federal emergency relief funds. 

Stay Informed

Travelers can obtain information about this closure and construction project by: 

Remember: Slow for the Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

●    Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.

●    Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.

●    Watch for workers. Drive with caution.

●    Don't change lanes unnecessarily.

●    Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.

●    Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.

●    Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.

●    Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

●    Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.

●    Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.

●    Be patient!

About CDOT

CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely. Our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.