CO 72 Coal Creek Canyon

About the Project

CDOT and contractor M.A. Mortenson have completed a federally-funded permanent flood repair project along a 12-mile section of CO 72 that sustained heavy damage during the floods of 2013.

Crews replaced five culverts, widened a section of CO 72 from Plainview Road to Crescent Park, and made significant drainage and erosion control improvements in the canyon.

Schedule and Traffic Impacts

• No restrictions or traffic impacts are in place. The project is complete.

General Project Information

This section of CO 72 provides access from the west side of the Denver metro area through Coal Creek Canyon to Nederland. A 12-mile stretch of this mountainous highway sustained major damage from the floods of 2013. While emergency work repaired damages to make the roadway passable, permanent drainage and roadway improvements included in this project will help mitigate future flood damage. Specific work includes:

• Replacing culverts to accommodate large storm events
• Stabilizing slopes and restoring channels
• Adding a 4-foot shoulder along westbound CO 72 from Plainview Road to Crescent Park, and
• Re-establishing native grasses and erosion control to slopes that were disturbed during emergency work.