Posted on: February 5th, 2018

Update on Flood Recovery Work in Fourmile Canyon
Upcoming closures on Gold Run Road

Hello –

Here’s an update on work currently taking place and future plans for projects in Fourmile Canyon. 

 GOLD RUN/SALINA:

Work is progressing well on the Gold Run Road and Creek Recovery and Restoration Project. Crews continue to work on several aspects of the project, including: major property access and roadway culverts, retaining walls, and stream restoration. Five private property access culverts have been installed and crews continue to progress uphill while working on new locations, all while forming and pouring the reinforced concrete aprons, footers, headwalls, and wingwalls that will significantly complete the structures. Several roadway drainage structures have been built and more are coming. Stream work is going as planned and will continue. 

 FULL ROAD CLOSURES PLANNED OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS:

There are four major roadway culverts to be installed beneath Gold Run in the coming weeks. Unfortunately these structures are simply too big and the road/canyon is too narrow to safely complete the work while keeping at least one lane open. Here are the current timelines and locations of closures on Gold Run Road above Salina Junction:

Full Roadway Closures will be in place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

First Closure

Monday, Feb. 12 to Friday, Feb. 16

Just south of 1448 Gold Run Road

Second Closure

Monday, Feb. 26 to Friday, March 2

Just above 864 Gold Run Road

Third Closure

Monday, March 12 to Friday, March 16

Between 839 and 864 Gold Run

Fourth Closure

Monday, March 26 to Friday, March 30

At Ingram Gulch/637 Gold Run

 For those not familiar with the area, the closures are all located above the Salina Fire Station and Schoolhouse. A map is attached for reference (or click here to go to link).

There is a possibility that the road will reopen before 4:30 p.m. on Friday of each week, but we will not know exactly when until we get into the ground and determine exactly what material we are working with. I’ll post updates to this listserv each week to let you know how things are going. 

We have coordinated this work with Fourmile Fire and the Sheriff’s Office and they are prepared if an emergency event occurs that requires their attention during a closure period. SEMA has contingency plans in place and can reopen the road in approximately one-hour.

Unfortunately, The Climb bus will only be able to make their 6:35 a.m. eastbound run down Fourmile and into Boulder and their 5:30 p.m. westbound run up to Gold Hill during closure windows. The service will operate between Boulder and Gold Hill using Sunshine Canyon/Mapleton Avenue for regularly scheduled runs that operate between the 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. closure window. Residents will be able to flag down the bus along Sunshine Canyon Drive in areas where it is safe for the bus to pull over.

I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause anyone in their daily travels. The project team looked at this from every angle and could not find safe way to keep at least one-lane open during the work.

I’d like to take a moment to address a burglary that took place in the area that was perpetrated by a day-laborer hired by a subcontractor. This was an extremely unfortunate situation and everyone on the project team feels horrible that it happened. The burglar was arrested the day of the crime by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). The BCSO understands the unease that has been created for many residents by having a lot of people working throughout the canyon, so they will increase their patrols to help keep an eye on things. The contractor has put new policies and procedures in place to ensure that trusted staff members and supervisors are always paired up with newer employees. In addition, the subcontractor will not use the company that supplied the problematic staffer again. I personally have found that the dedicated men and women who have been on this site and on other county-run projects in the canyon from the beginning of our flood recovery efforts are truly good people who only want to help residents get through this tough construction season as peacefully as possible.

UPPER FOURMILE/WALL STREET UPDATE

Work in upper Fourmile Canyon/Wall Street took a bit to get rolling, but things are up-and-running and crews are currently tackling both road and creek aspects of the project. Emerson Gulch Road has been rebuilt and looks great. Road crews have found tough going at retaining wall sites, but have come up with creative solutions for maintaining progress. Stream restoration crews recently began their work at Emerson Gulch. This work will continue at various locations through the canyon for the foreseeable future. Travel delays will continue to range up to 15-minutes along this stretch of the canyon, but we’ll do our best to keep them as short as possible. 

LOGAN MILL ROAD

Designs are substantially complete for the new bridge at Logan Mill, but we’re still waiting for few pieces of the puzzle to fall into place before commencing construction. SEMA (who’s working on Gold Run) has been awarded the project, and they’re ready to start as soon as we say go, which we’re hopeful will be in March. 

LOWER FOURMILE CANYON DRIVE

This project is still in a holding pattern as we await clearances from FEMA to get started. Unfortunately they’re still short-staffed in this region due to the devastating hurricanes that hit the south and Puerto Rico, which has forced the temporary relocation of a majority of their staff. We’re still hopeful we’ll break ground on this project later this summer or early this fall. 

I hope this information proves helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Have a good day. 

Sincerely, Andrew

Andrew Barth, Communications
Boulder County Transportation
abarth@nullbouldercounty.org
303-441-1032
www.4MileCanyon.com
www.GoldRunRoad.com
www.Upper4Mile.com