Section Of CO 119 To Close For Extended CDOT Blasting

BOULDER, CO — A section of Highway 119 will close Monday for an extended scheduled blast, the Colorado Department of Transportation said. The highway will be blocked off between Arapahoe Avenue and Fourmile Canyon Road between 10 a.m. to midnight, but if crews complete the work early, the roadway will open earlier, CDOT officials said.

Several large boulders are expected to fall in the regular blast, CDOT said. The rocks are anticipated to be so large that they will likely require a second blast on the ground so that they can be removed from the highway.

During the closure, drivers are asked to use CO 72 or Lefthand Canyon Drive. Local resident access will be allowed between Fourmile Canyon Road and Nederland.

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"Due to the unpredictable nature of blasting operations, it is difficult to predict how the rock will react to the blasts," officials said in an alert. "CDOT engineers and geotechnical experts are continuously monitoring and adjusting the plans in order to minimize public impact, but will always utilize a full closure to maintain public safety."

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, full closures for blasting will return to the regularly scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To date, approximately 20,000 cubic yards of material has been removed from the canyon walls to make room for a more flood resilient canyon corridor. It’s all part of CDOT’s Whole System – Whole Safety initiative.

"CDOT and the entire project team want to thank the surrounding communities for their patience throughout this project," officials said in the latest alert.

Drivers should always check the government website, sign up text alerts and call the hotline before they travel the canyon to stay informed on current conditions, officials said.