I-70 Avalanche Control Near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels & US 40 Berthoud Pass

Project Facts

  • Cost: $371,000
  • Contractor: Geovert, LLC
  • Timeline: July - October 2018
  • Location: On I-70 at the following:
    • three slide locations near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels; and
    • one slide path at US 40 Berthoud Pass

From July through October, crews on this project installed new avalanche-control measures at the following locations:

  1. near the west portal of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels (EJMT)
  2. west of the EJMT on the north side (mile points 212-213)
  3. at US 40 Berthoud Pass (mile point 241)

About Avalanche Control

In avalanche-prone slopes that can affect the highways, CDOT monitors conditions and employs various methods to bring down unstable snow in a controlled manner, minimizing impacts to the road and travelers. Control methods include use of artillery or explosives to trigger an avalanche, depending on site conditions, weather, and visibility.

Remotely controlled avalanche systems were constructed at four known slide paths on I-70 and US 40 to assist CDOT with avalanche-control activities.