Big Thompson Canyon: Hwy 34 Reopens For Good Next Week

LARIMER COUNTY, CO -- Just in time for the Memorial Day holiday traffic, the Colorado Department of Transportation will finally reopen Highway 34 up the Big Thompson Canyon for good on Thursday May 24 at 4 p.m.

Severe flooding of the Big Thompson River in 2013 washed away pieces of the highway that connects Loveland with Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Roads and bridges were heavily damaged, and CDOT took a new look at engineering and replacement by studying the hydraulic flows of the river.

The agency believes the new highway will better withstand a change in the river's water route.

The canyon has been closed to traffic for months at a time, causing residents and visitors to take circuitous detours that detract from businesses and homes in the canyon.

James Usher, CDOT project director, said CDOT and contractors Kiewit Infrastructure Co. shaved 18 months off the construction schedule by working since October.

“A tremendous amount of work has been put in to make this opening before Memorial Day happen. This project has affected so many people in different ways, especially the residents of the Big Thompson Canyon, " Usher said in a statement.

Kiewit has installed 95,000 cubic yards of rock to help protect the roadway from flooding erosion. River improvements were installed as well as new drainage pipe. Crews also built the Horseshoe Bridge structures east of Drake where the roadway is now cuts through the mountain further away from the river.

The new road design will also protect emergency routes to allow for canyon travelers and residents to get out and for emergency responders to get in, CDOT said in a statement.

There will still be some construction happening during the summer, including a few closed lanes for paving, but for the most part, Hwy 34 will be brand new and hopefully hold out against future flooding.

CDOT PROJECT INFORMATION: For updates to this project, the public may call (970) 667-1005 or visit www.us34canyon.codot.gov. Major CDOT project updates are also available via CoTrip.org, Twitter @coloradodot or Facebook.

Image via CDOT