The Colorado Department of Transportation is set to receive almost $23 million in emergency relief funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete roadway repairs from the 2013 floods.
Over the last few years, the USDOT has provided more than $700 million in funds to help CDOT complete 32 projects meant to repair substantial damage from flooding in 2013. CDOT will use the bulk of the funds to complete the final repair project on Colorado Highway 7 from Lyons to Raymond. Additionally, about $1.25 million will go towards repairing rockslide damage on US 550 at Red Mountain Pass.
“Since the 2013 floods, and after last year’s US 550 rock slide, we have worked persistently to ensure our state has the resources it needs to fully recover, but there is more work to do,” said Sen. Michael Bennet. “This funding will make it possible to complete final repair projects — rebuilding our infrastructure and making our communities more resilient to future disasters.”
The 2013 floods impacted more than 200 square miles of the state, including 486 miles of CDOT’s roadways. Thirty-nine roads were closed, and more than 100 of the state’s bridges were damaged. CDOT reopened all of the roads by that November with 110 emergency repair projects, and has been systematically completing permanent repair projects since. The CO-7 project will include replacing asphalt placed during temporary repairs, adding shoulders and rock fall ditches, improving safety and restoring ecological systems along the road.
US 550 at Red Mountain Pass was damaged due to multiple rock falls and flooding in July last year. The final repairs to the road were completed in December using funds from CDOT’s Transportation Commission emergency funds. The new money will help to replenish the fund.
“We are grateful to the Colorado congressional delegation for helping to secure the funds to fully recover from these events,” said Shoshana Lew, CDOT’s new executive director. “The floods of 2013 were the most devastating natural disaster in the state’s history. Having the resources to finish the last of those permanent repairs and pay for the damage caused by the rock fall on Red Mountain Pass is important for the safety and good repair of our state’s transportation network.”