Cost to repair flooded roads $475 million, opening dates announced

Colorado’s flood damaged highways will cost at least $475 million to repair, state officials said late Wednesday afternoon as they outlined a list of opening dates on major roads that have been closed.

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed an executive order Thursday that makes $65.5 million more available for flood response and recovery, bringing the total state funds available to $91.5 million.

“There is great urgency to get flood recovery efforts underway as quickly as possible,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. “This money will help local communities rebuild now instead of waiting for other recovery dollars to arrive.”

The state aims to complete “temporary or permanent” repairs on highways by Dec. 1. The cost could rise as transportation officials uncover additional damage as flood waters recede.

“This is our initial estimate,´ said Amy Ford, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation. “That number may change.”

The transportation department has updated its list of closed highways and estimated reopening dates. All estimated openings are weather dependent and could change based on the conditions of the highway once crews begin the extensive repairs.

Some roads will reopen in a temporary state meaning a gravel or a one-lane road.

> U.S. 36 south of Colorado 66: Repairs to a bridge are almost complete, so the road is scheduled to open to one-lane alternating traffic by Friday.

> Colorado 257 between Colorado 60 in Milliken to US 34: This section is scheduled to reopen by the end of the month.

> U.S. 34 between County Road 27 and the Dam Store: This two-mile stretch is scheduled to reopen by the end of the month or early October.

> U.S. 34 between Greeley and Kersey: This section will reopen to traffic this month or early October as a temporary road. Paving will occur after the highway opens to traffic.

> U.S. 34 between 37th Street to Country Road 49 in Greeley: This section of U.S. 34 Business will reopen to traffic in early to mid-October.

> U.S. 36 between Lyons and Estes Park: The National Guard is working with the transportation department to make temporary repairs. The highway is scheduled to reopen by Dec. 1.

> Colorado 7 between Lyons and Estes Park: The contractor began the damage assessment this week. The state aims to reopen the highway in a temporary state by Dec. 1.

> U.S. 34 between Country Road 27 and Estes Park: The contractor began the damage assessment this week, but the state aims to reopen the highway in a temporary state by Dec. 1.

Hickenlooper’s order transfers $15.5 million from the Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund and $50 million from the Medical Services Premiums appropriation to the Disaster Emergency Fund.

The order also authorizes the Director of the Office of Emergency Management to allocate as much as $20 million for short-term, no interest loans to provide government agencies for flood response and recovery.

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