{"id":1319287,"date":"2020-04-04T05:18:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-04T11:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=995245"},"modified":"2020-04-04T08:40:44","modified_gmt":"2020-04-04T14:40:44","slug":"remembering-dick-prosence-the-great-influencer-behind-glenwood-canyon-i-70-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/remembering-dick-prosence-the-great-influencer-behind-glenwood-canyon-i-70-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Dick Prosence: the great influencer behind Glenwood Canyon I-70 design"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-1024x576.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160.jpeg 1334w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>The western entrance of the Hanging Lake Tunnels on EB I-70 in Glenwood Canyon.<\/strong><br \/><em>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>It would be hard to drive through Glenwood Canyon and not find the fingerprints of Dick Prosence around just about every bend and through every tunnel of Interstate 70.<\/p>\n<p>Prosence was largely considered the \u201cFather of Glenwood Canyon\u2019s I-70 Project\u201d following his time with what was then called the Colorado Department of Highways from the 1960s until the early 1980s when construction began on what to this day is considered an engineering marvel.<\/p>\n<p>Prosence continued his engineering career in the Phoenix area before later retiring to Meeker. He died at his home there on March 21 at age 95. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"His obituary (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/obituaries\/obituary-ra-dick-prosence\/\">His obituary<\/a> was published March 31.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-1024x576.jpeg\" alt class=\"wp-image-995284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7160.jpeg 1334w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>The western entrance of the Hanging Lake Tunnels on EB I-70 in Glenwood Canyon.<\/strong><br \/><em>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Floyd Diemoz of Glenwood Springs first met Prosence in the late 1960s, just after the first four-lane section of highway pushed east from Glenwood and through the new No Name Tunnels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<div class=\"row gspi-donation gspi-donation-mobile p-0\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/PI-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/PI-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/pi-banner-paypal.jpg)\" class=\"col-xl-8 p-3 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/donate\/?utm_source=article&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=donation&amp;utm_term=&amp;utm_content=mid-article\">Donate<\/a><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cObjections to the design of that highway began to build, since it represented a considerable disruption of the river and the canyon walls,\u201d Diemoz wrote in a letter to the editor remembering Prosence and his influence on the project.<\/p>\n<p>The solution to the controversy was the formation of the first of two citizen advisory committees. That first committee was fired when it recommended the state Highway Commission \u201clook elsewhere\u201d to build I-70, such as over the Flat Tops or Cottonwood Pass.<\/p>\n<p>With the official directive then to proceed with building the highway through Glenwood Canyon, it was Prosence who recommended a second committee to help make sure it was done right.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Diemoz ended up serving on that committee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe neat thing about our committee is that we wielded a lot of power, and essentially had control over the Highway Commission,\u201d Diemoz said.<\/p>\n<p>When efforts were made to cut project costs by eliminating the Hanging Lake Tunnels \u2014 meant to preserve the pristine nature of the Hanging Lake trail area \u2014 Prosence and the citizens committee stood pat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe truly had the power,\u201d Diemoz said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDick never wavered in his support of our advisory committee and their task to help reach a public consensus of the highway\u2019s final design,\u201d Diemoz wrote in his letter. \u201cHe absolutely understood the care and respect the canyon deserved.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Prosence penned the introduction to the 1994 book by John L. Haley, \u201cWooing a Harsh Mistress: Glenwood Canyon\u2019s Highway Odyssey,\u201d and is featured prominently in the text.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/ProsenceRemembered-gpi-040320-731x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-995246\" width=\"366\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/ProsenceRemembered-gpi-040320-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/ProsenceRemembered-gpi-040320-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/ProsenceRemembered-gpi-040320-768x1076.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/ProsenceRemembered-gpi-040320-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/ProsenceRemembered-gpi-040320-1462x2048.jpg 1462w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/ProsenceRemembered-gpi-040320-scaled.jpg 1828w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px\"><figcaption><strong>Dick Prosence, pictured in the 1994 book, \u201cWooing a Harsh Mistress: Glenwood Canyon\u2019s Highway Odyssey.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In it, he wrote, \u201cChallenges faced by the builders of this segment of the interstate system rank among the most difficult in the nation. Hard work enhanced by ingenuity produced what deserves to be called the crown jewel of the interstate highway system.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7161-1024x576.jpeg\" alt class=\"wp-image-995285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7161-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7161-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7161-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/IMG_7161.jpeg 1334w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>The upper and lower decks of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon. <\/strong><br \/><em>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Prosence also reflected on his involvement with the project in an Oct. 9, 1992 Glenwood Post article, right before the official ribbon-cutting just inside the eastern bore of the Hanging Lake Tunnels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGlenwood Canyon was not the first project where the environment had a strong position in how it was to be designed and constructed \u2026 in many eyes it\u2019s the evolution of those original concepts into what\u2019s now regarded as, not only an engineering marvel, but one that\u2019s in tune with its natural environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Before the Glenwood Canyon roadway was built, Prosence also helped oversee the construction of the four-lane section of I-70 west of Glenwood Springs toward Rifle and Parachute.<\/p>\n<p>It was during that phase of construction that a young engineer by the name of Ralph Trapani was first hired to oversee the construction of the Rifle interchange and the new spur road north into downtown Rifle.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI inherited a design that didn\u2019t really work all that well, and it\u2019s safe to say people were agitated by it,\u201d said Trapani, who still lives and consults from his home in Glenwood Springs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI spent a lot of time with the citizens there, and Dick always supported me through that,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it ended up being a nice entrance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After working on projects including Vail Pass and the No Name pedestrian overpass, Trapani was tapped in late 1979 to become the Glenwood Canyon project manager.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was still pretty young, but Dick had a lot of confidence in me, and himself had built a lot of trust and credibility to move these kinds of projects forward,\u201d Trapani said. \u201cHe showed a lot of courage and bravery, and advocated for and stuck to whatever he thought was right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trapani said he was able to employ that same model of working directly with the public to achieve positive outcomes when he later oversaw the completion of the Colorado Highway 82 four-lane project between Carbondale and Aspen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t know it, but it was Dick who also worked really hard to get that project going,\u201d Trapani said of the long-delayed four-lane project, which ended up incorporating some of the same design elements as Glenwood Canyon.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"mailto:jstroud@postindependent.com\">jstroud@postindependent.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/remembering-dick-prosence-the-great-influencer-behind-glenwood-canyon-i-70-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The western entrance of the Hanging Lake Tunnels on EB I-70 in Glenwood Canyon.Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent It would be hard to drive through Glenwood Canyon and not find the fingerprints of Dick Prosence around just about every bend and through every tunnel of Interstate 70. Prosence was largely considered the \u201cFather of Glenwood [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1319287","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-07 12:16:43","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1319287"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1319288,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319287\/revisions\/1319288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1319287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1319287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1319287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}