Last Colorado Highway Closed By Floods Reopens
LYONS, Colo. (AP/CBS4) - The last highway closed in Colorado after September's historic floods is back open.
Gov. John Hickenlooper helped reopen Colorado Highway 7 between Lyons and Allenspark on Tuesday.
The highway was so washed out crews had to move the equivalent of 17,000 dump trucks full of material to get the highway restored.
They replaced 27 culverts and installed nearly two miles of concrete barrier.
"They said we couldn't do Dec. 1, and in the end, when you push hard enough and you have people that are that talented and really work that hard, because CDOT, there's no way to express how hard CDOT has worked on this. Words don't do it," Hickenlooper said.
Allenspark residents Peggy Donahue and Marta Dowell say the road reopening means the end of lengthy detours on rough roads. They told the Longmont Times-Call they would celebrate with mimosas.
About 485 miles of highways were destroyed or damaged by flooding. In all, 27 highways were closed.
The state had set a goal of reopening all damaged highways by Dec. 1.
Other major highways that had to be rebuilt are as follows:
- Highway 72 in Coal Creek Canyon, which opened a couple of weeks ago.
- Highway 119 through Boulder Canyon was the first big opening back in early October.
- Highway 36 from Lyons to Estes Park opened in early November.
- Highway 34 between Loveland and Estes Park opened last week.
CDOT crews, contractors and National Guard units all teamed up to get the roads open.
Colorado Floods: How To Help
The recent floods are impacting families and communities throughout Colorado, so CBS4 has compiled a list of ways you can support the local communities impacted by the floods.
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