In Washington, the reconstruction of U.S. 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon is defined as numbers on a page.
A continuing resolution here, an emergency spending package there — each adding up to millions of dollars for the reconstruction of the connection between Loveland and Estes Park that was destroyed in many sections during the 2013 Front Range flood.
On Friday, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner had the opportunity to look firsthand at what that federal spending has been able to create: a road that is redesigned in some spots, reinforced in many others and restructured to ensure there will be at least one lane available for emergency use throughout the canyon should a flood of that magnitude happen again.
“Look at this,” Gardner said as he gestured toward the roadway in the lower section of the canyon. “Four years ago this happened — it’s remarkable to see. … The hard work that has taken place, things that people thought would take a decade that are about to be completed, that’s a credit to all the partners and dedicated public servants that have been a part of this recovery effort,” Gardner said.
Leading the tour were Colorado Department of Transportation regional director Johnny Olson and Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly.
Olson described how the contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure, was able to apply techniques used to strengthen dams to fortify the roadway in areas such as The Narrows to create a hardened roadbed that will resist floodwaters. In other spots, the contractor was able to save millions of dollars by shaving off the side of the mountainside to create a bedrock road bed that won’t be swept away in another flood.
“This is a resiliency platform that we look at in terms of innovation,” Olson said.
The highlight, though, was the construction area still abuzz with activity near what is called Horseshoe Bend, just west of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park.
Where the road had hugged the north wall of the canyon — and been in the direct line of the jackhammer of the flood’s full force — CDOT engineers will redirect the roadway through a gap blasted out of the granite.
Olson noted the work has benefitted from the cooperation from agencies as large as the Department of Interior down to municipalities such as Loveland and Larimer County.
Work forced the closure of the canyon highway to through traffic from October 2016 through May, and agency officials will close the canyon again this October through May 2017 to finish most of the work.
Olson noted the funding from Congress will allow the work to be completed much more quickly — instead of through 10 years as initially designed.
Gardner also spoke with Laura Emerson about the efforts of the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition and the work it is doing in the aftermath of the flood.
Jeff Stahla: 970-635-3691, jstahla@reporter-herald.com
