4 things to know about U.S. 34's closure
The drive to Estes Park is about to get longer.
U.S. Highway 34, the scenic road that winds through the Big Thompson Canyon, will close to through-traffic Monday.
The highway between Loveland and Estes Park was devastated by the 2013 flood, and sections of the road have consistently washed out. So, the Colorado Department of Transportation set out to make permanent repairs.
They chose a full closure to kick off the repairs to expedite the process, rather than a partial closure that would have taken longer.
Here's what you need to know:
1. The closure
A 3-mile section of U.S. 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon will close Monday. CDOT is hoping to reopen in time for Memorial Day in late May but construction could go longer.. The closure will be between mile marker 77, just east of Drake, and mile marker 80, near Cedar Cove.
Businesses on either side of the closer will remain open.
Although drivers will no longer be able to use the canyon to reach Estes Park, the road will be open above and below the closure.
Canyon residents are allowed to get permits to pass through the closure at designated times during the day, but permits are not open to the general public. Those with permits will be allowed through the closure from 6-8:30 a.m. and 4-7 p.m each day. Drivers moving through the closure will follow pilot cars.
BIG THOMPSON: How the closure will affect the river
2. Commuting and accessing Estes Park
Drivers who want to get to Estes Park from Fort Collins should take U.S. 287 to Longmont, Colorado Highway 66 to Lyons and U.S. 36 from there to Estes Park. Taking U.S. 36 adds about 20 minutes to the overall trip.
Commuters traveling to Estes Park for work can use the carpooling service VanGo to drive through the closure. It has been awarded permits generally restricted to canyon residents. Up to six people will be assigned to each van and will be responsible for organizing where they'll meet and who will drive each day among themselves. They'll pay a monthly fee determined on where they're leaving from. The company will provide the van, insurance, maintenance, gasoline and a guaranteed ride home. In case of emergency, VanGo will provide a ride to leave early from Estes Park.
More information is available at vango.rideproweb.com.
School buses, emergency services providers and other businesses such as delivery companies will also be allowed through the closure.
EXPLORE LYONS: Where Oskar Blue and Bluegrass reside
3. Work during the closure
The majority of work throughout the nine-month closure will be "major rock blasting," according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Two blasting locations will require the removal of about 200,000 cubic yards of rocks. This is roughly the equivalent of 20,000 dump trucks full of material, according to CDOT.
Federal safety regulations prevent rock blasting at night because of visibility hazards. The goal is to get the majority of high-impact blasting done during this period.
4. Next steps
The nine-month closure is the first in a five-phase plan to make permanent repairs to the road between Loveland and Estes Park. Subsequent phases will involve repairs to various sections along a 30-mile stretch of the road.
Those phases will not involve a full closure.