Travel Impacts

As of March 27, US 36 is again open for through travel between Lyons and Estes Park. Construction activities will continue between Mile Points 7 and 8 through early 2021 and various types of work could require periodic short-term traffic stops and running traffic in an alternating, one-lane configuration.

Project officials are attributing the early completion of work at Mile Point 8 to lower-than-anticipated traffic counts, favorable weather conditions for much of the last three weeks, and Flatiron’s ability to work around-the-clock.  

This closure timeframe was selected by community agency representatives because it includes the one-week spring break when school bus operations will not be affected. This timeframe also minimizes the impact on community events and tourism activities that pick up later in the spring. 

While impactful, the alternative to this one-month full closure would have involved alternating one-way travel on US 36 with long, unpredictable traffic queues for nearly four months.  

While US 36 is closed, drivers will need to use State Highway 7 or US 34 to travel to and from Estes Park. School bus services in the morning and afternoon will not be interrupted and emergency vehicles will be allowed through the construction area at all times except during rock blasting activities.

The Lion Gulch Trail will remain open to the public except during rock blasting.

Click here to read the press release announcing the start of this project.