CDOT Removing Debris From Flood-Impacted Highways

December 5, 2013 - Northeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 4 - All flood-related debris will be removed from CDOT right-of-way.

BOULDER, JEFFERSON, LARIMER, AND WELD COUNTIES — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has contracted with Phillips and Jordan, Inc. to collect debris from flood-impacted state highways. Residents who live on the flooded highways are urged to bring their flood-related debris to just off the pavement next to the highway, where it will be picked up over the next few weeks. Debris crews are working Monday through Saturday from sun up to sun down.

Debris crews will not access private property or city/county roads to pick up debris, so residents will need to place any flood-related debris right along the edge of the highway to have it removed. CDOT is completing its first pass of debris removal on US 34, US 36, State Highway (SH) 7, SH 60, SH 66, SH 72, and SH 119. Residents can expect that the second pass will begin the week of December 8 on SH 7 and will continue on the other corridors shortly thereafter. A third pass will be scheduled for some time in early- to mid-January, as required. CDOT will update the public as the schedule changes.

Residents are urged to separate the debris into piles by type by material, and not all debris will be removed at once due to the size of trucks hauling materials and the amount of materials in a given area. The following is a guideline of the materials that will be removed from CDOT right-of-way:

What will be picked up:

  • Household hazardous waste: Paints, cleaners, solvents, propane tanks, petroleum products, etc.
  • White waste: Appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers & dryers, hot water heaters, dishwashers and microwave ovens
  • Electronic waste: Computers, televisions, DVD players and telephones
  • Vegetation waste: Branches, plants, trees and grass

o   CDOT requests that vegetative materials be separated from other materials in piles of six feet in length or less for easier pickup.

  • Construction & demolition waste: Wood framing from houses, furniture, carpet. clothes, concrete, etc.
  • Car waste: Car parts including batteries

What will not be picked up:

  • Regular household garbage. This should be disposed of in your dumpsters and removed by your waste management provider.

Residents should not place debris piles near any obstructions (mailboxes, hydrants, trees) to better allow crews to pick up the materials as easily as possible. Due to the varied size of trucks and debris, not all debris may be picked up on a given pass, but crews will get to it before leaving the area. Once collected, debris is taken directly to local landfills or to CDOT properties to be reduced and eventually used for construction or slope stabilization.

For questions about the debris removal process, please visit the CDOT flood information website at http://www.coloradodot.info/travel/floodinfoupdates. Members of the public can speak to someone directly by calling toll free at 1-800-999-4997.

To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Information about weekly lane closures will be available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. Live road conditions are available at www.cotrip.org or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.