Second winter U.S. 34 closure just around the corner

It's about to get a lot harder to get to Estes Park from this side of the Big Thompson Canyon.

Again.

Starting Oct. 2, the Colorado Department of Transportation plans to close the road for a second winter, after the summer tourism season winds down.

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The closure bumps the project's completion date up to late May 2018, nearly two years ahead of the original timeline.

But it also means another winter of major disruptions for canyon residents, many of whom expressed outrage when they learned of plans to close the road a second year in a row.

This year's closure is set to run from just west of the Dam Store in Loveland to mile point 66, just east of Mall Road, an approximately 12-mile stretch. No one will be able to get through those closure points without a resident permit.

Like the last closure, CDOT plans to allow canyon residents in and out of the canyon during specified times each morning and evening. Residents can also request to travel during other times. 

CDOT has two public meetings planned to help people learn more about the construction schedule and resident access to the road. 

The meetings are:

• 5-8 p.m. Sept. 11 at Estes Park High School,1600 Manford Ave., Estes Park
• 5-8 p.m. Sept. 13 at Namaqua Elementary School, 209 Namaqua Road, Loveland

The project is designed to make the road better able to withstand future flooding. 

More:Big Thompson Canyon residents fear second winter closure