10-16-2013 07:13 PM

CDOT details flood damage to Colorado's bridges


Long stretches of Colorado's roadways will have to be rebuilt after being heavily damaged by the floods.




Of the 411 bridges on the state's roads that were affected by the devastating September floods, 120 will need repairs, the Colorado Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
The remaining 291 are currently open and don't need repairs, CDOT said.
None of the bridges were deemed destroyed and in need of replacement, the agency said.
“Early in the flooding it had initially appeared as though some of the bridges may have been destroyed when viewing aerial photography,” said Josh Laipply, CDOT’s state bridge engineer.
“[But] once our inspectors got on the ground and into the more damaged sites, it became apparent that much of the damage was on the roadways approaching the bridges and that the structures, while needing repair, were still stable.”
CDOT estimates that needed repairs to roads and bridges damaged in the floods could cost up to $475 million, spokeswoman Amy Ford said.
CDOT has had two inspection teams looking at the bridges since the floodwaters started dropping.
Among the corridors still currently closed:
• Colorado 7 from Lyons to Estes Park: All six bridges along this route need repairs.
• Colorado 72 in Coal Creek Canyon: All four bridges need repairs.
• U.S. 34 from Loveland to Estes Park: Eleven of the 19 bridges on this segment need repairs.
• U.S. 36 from Lyons to Estes Park: All six bridges need repairs.
CDOT inspectors are working with city and county crews to assess damage to more than 800 local bridges that are not on the state highway system.
Cathy Proctor covers energy, the environment, transportation and construction for the Denver Business Journal and edits the weekly "Energy Inc." newsletter. Phone: 303-803-9233. Subscribe to the Energy Inc. newsletter


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