Project Background

Damage Overview

US 34 (bypass) Southeast of Greeley, Colorado, sustained substantial damage between mile markers 114 and 116. Flood waters upstream of the highway exceeded the banks of the main channel of the South Platte River and then flowed northeast where they overtopped US 34. As a result of the water flooding over the roadway, a large section of the roadway washed out east of the highway’s intersection with US 34 (Business) and portions of the westbound lanes were undermined east and west of the intersection. Additionally, sediment and debris were deposited throughout this area.  The highway was closed for a period of 17 days before emergency repairs could be made to re-establish transportation routes.

US 34 ShoeflyEmergency (Temporary) Repairs

Temporary repairs were completed and the highway was reopened to limited traffic in both directions on October 1, 2013.  Work involved removal of sediment and debris from roadways and ditches, repair and installation of reinforced concrete pipes, scour hole repair, repaving of the roadway and re-establishment of the embankments. At milepost 115.4 a temporary detour was constructed to route the traffic around the damaged portion of roadway often referred to as the "big hole". The temporary detour will be replaced by a bridge during the current permanent repair phase.