Underground Infrastructure Challenges Delay Foothills Trail Reopening In Colorado Springs

From the City of Colorado Springs:

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 2:44pm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A section of Foothills Trail, between Blair Bridge and the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center underpass, will remain closed through the end of December.

The delay is due to to thick underground rock encountered with the installation of a new underground sanitary sewer pipe. Installing the pipe underground will help preserve the trail and a strip of native vegetation between 30th Street and the construction area.

During the extended closure crews will complete utility work, dam construction and reconstruction of the concrete trail paving. The work is part of a flood mitigation project underway in the northeastern portion of Garden of the Gods Park.

Additional short closures of the trail may be required next spring to complete re-planting efforts along the trail.

Flood Mitigation Project Background

Following an increased risk for flash flooding along Camp Creek and the North and South Douglas creek watersheds following the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012, City officials worked to identify and obtain funding for flood mitigation efforts along both watersheds. In the fall of 2013, the City of Colorado Springs launched the Camp Creek Drainage Improvement Project with extensive community participation to thoughtfully plan short-term and long-term solutions to protect the Camp Creek corridor from flooding and erosion, and to improve public safety.

This press release was produced by the City of Colorado Springs. The views expressed here are the author’s own.