With two historic flooding events occurring in Archuleta County from Oct. 23 through Nov. 2, multiple town and county roads, state and U.S. highways have sustained significant damage, causing closures, along with some areas limited to one-lane traffic.
According to a press release from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) on Nov. 4, “Construction crews are currently prioritizing repair work on CO 151 at [mile point] 27, approximately four miles south of Chimney Rock. Teams are aiming to regain limited residential access later this week, possibly as early as Friday (11/6). Regaining access at [mile point] 30 will be the next priority.”
The press release notes that Colo. 151 is currently closed from mile point 27 to mile point 30.
Significant damage has also occurred in multiple areas along U.S. 160, including the Piedra River bridge and on Wolf Creek Pass.
During a Pagosa Springs Town Council meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, CDOT Region 5 Transportation Director Julie Constan explained that Wolf Creek Pass is closed again as crews are working to clean up multiple areas that sustained heavy mud and debris pile-ups.
She also noted that on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass, there is now a section of road that has washed out near the east side chain station.
“The highway is completely compromised through there,” she said, explaining that CDOT has a contractor on-site and is working to establish one-lane traffic through that section, with work hopefully starting by the end of this week.
Constan also explained that a portion of U.S. 84 going south out of Pagosa Springs sustained some damage near mile marker 19, but that crews have been able to stabilize the area and that one-lane traffic is flowing through there.
Constan then explained that the Piedra River bridge on U.S. 160 “received significant damage.”
Sections of the bridge were completely washed out, and the bridge is currently closed to traffic.
Constan explained that CDOT is hiring a contractor to install a temporary bridge as quickly as possible.
She noted that “a bunch of” erosion occurred along the river bank and that in order for a temporary bridge to be installed, contractors will need to establish new “anchors” for the bridge to sit on top of.
Constan added that engineering teams are “working around the clock” to address the situation, but that unfortunately “this could be a three- to four-week process before we get a temporary bridge put in there.”
She added that the “goal” is to have one lane of traffic in each direction opened over the bridge during the winter months.
“They’re all our top priorities,” Constan said of the work needing to be done on Colo. 151 and U.S. 160.
County
According to an update form the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office posted on Nov. 3, multiple county roads remain closed.
Those include:
• U.S. 160 from mile marker 121.4 to the Piedra River bridge.
• County Road 700 from mile marker 12.5 to 16 (Pagosa Junction).
• County Road 500 from mile marker 13 to 34.
• County Road 335 from mile marker 2 and beyond.
Town
According to a public safety notice released by the Town of Pagosa Springs on Nov. 3, “multiple street closures remain in effect throughout the affected area.”
Those closures include:
• Hermosa Street.
• San Juan Street.
• North 5th Street.
• Hot Springs boulevard, between U.S. 160 and San Juan Street.
• South 6th Street.
The notice also states, “Please respect all barricades, road closures, and restricted access points. Do not attempt to drive or walk around closure barriers.”
>