U.S. 36 will remain closed until further notice.
This weekend brought some serious rain to Colorado, and with it, several roadways were destroyed. On Friday, July 12, U.S. 36 near Wadsworth buckled and cracked, leaving eastbound lanes of the road impassable and shut down. It's been said that the road was sinking at a rate of more than one inch every hour.
As crews work to repair the road, they have found that the situation is worse than they originally thought. The roadway is still shifting, with no projected date of reopening at this time.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is working diligently to get the roadway open again, however, the damage is extensive. On Friday night, a 300-foot-long void was discovered in the road’s base. The chief engineer for CDOT Josh Laipply described the situation as a "pretty large slope failure." This means that the soil underneath the roadway shifted and settled, causing the buckle in the road.
“It is sort of like clay you would use for pottery, where when it gets wet it turns in to a slurry, where it loses structural stability,” said CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew.
CDOT is working to build a workaround so that drivers can get back to using this highly trafficked route, but safety is a priority, for both drivers and repair crews, and the delays could go on throughout the week, possibly more. Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes and traffic has been shifted to the westbound side of the road, one lane in each direction. There will be significant delays in travel time as this is now a major construction project.
CDOT issued the following statement:
Travelers should know:
- Expect significant delays on EB US 36 from Boulder to Denver.
- Give yourself extra time for your commute and plan ahead.
- Know before you go and check traffic conditions by going to cotrip.org
- While the new traffic pattern is
being set up, CDOT will offer free travel on RTD’s Flatiron Flyer and LD Bus routes, in both directions, on US 36 for two days, this Monday and Tuesday.
- Telecommute if you are able to do so.
- Consider combining or skipping trips, especially during peak travel times.
- Drive with extra care and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the one ahead.
CDOT appreciates your patience and we are working around the clock to make the repairs and get all of EB US 36 open.
CDOT also recommends that drivers take State Highway 7 or 93 out of Boulder and advises against making plans to drive on the road.
We will keep you posted on any news regarding U.S. 36 and when it may be reopened to regular traffic. If you have any alternate routes to suggest to drivers, please share in the comments section below. Everyone stay safe out there!
