CO 82 Corridor Projects
Overview
This webpage provided updates on construction projects, including:
- CO 82 Grand Avenue Bridge Environmental Assessment
- Construction Updates/Travel Impacts
- Entrance to Aspen
- Buttermilk to Roundabout Bus Lanes
- Roaring Fork Valley Transit's VelociRFTA Project
- CO 82 Corridor Access Plan
CO 82 over Independence Pass typically closes in November each year and reopens prior to Memorial Day holiday weekend in late May. Please visit cotrip.org for the latest information.
Traffic Impacts
Current Construction/Maintenance Report
For scheduled lane closure information, read the CDOT to Improve CO 82 in Two Sections, Gerbazdale Eastick update here.
Or for information on the CO 82 Grand Avenue Bridge Environmental Assessment now underway, please visit the project webpage.
Travel Information
Transit
Holidays
There will be no highway maintenance or construction work on: New Year's Day; Easter; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving; the day after Thanksgiving; Christmas Day; and, Saturdays and Sundays when the celebrated holiday is part of an extended weekend.
In addition, there will be no construction from noon to midnight on the day preceding New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Fridays when the celebrated holidays are part of an extended weekend. Heavy equipment operation will not be permitted from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and the holidays listed above, nor from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the day preceding the holidays listed above.
Independence Pass
Each year, the two-lane, 12,095-foot pass closes for the winter for the safety of the traveling public and CDOT maintenance crews. The closure typically occurs in early November and the highway is almost always re-opened on the Thursday prior to Memorial Day each May. While this 2011-12 winter season has been very mild, it is too soon to predict or plan for an early opening of the pass. However, following snow removal and roadway/sign repairs, CDOT maintenance crews will assess the potential for an earlier May opening based on weather forecasts at that time. Please check our Traveler Information page to determine if there are projects, alerts or temporary closures of the pass due to weather at cotrip.org.
Historical Timeline
- Early 1900's - Colorado Midland Railroad alignment is abandoned. This property becomes the future location of SH 82.
- 1911 - The Colorado Highway Commission approved the addition of SH 82 to the state highway system.
- 1937 - Four miles of SH 82 were paved between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. The remainder of the highway to Aspen is oiled in 1938.
- 1962 - Construction begins to widen SH 82 to four lanes between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. It is completed in 1974.
- 1983-1988 - Several safety improvement projects are identified and put in place along SH 82.
- 1988 - The two-lane Basalt Bypass is completed.
- 1991 - Five miles of SH 82, down-valley from Aspen toward Brush Creek, are resurfaced. The project included such safety improvements as the application of a special skid-resistant surface treatment to the highway near Shale Bluffs in areas that are shaded from the winter sun.
1992-1994 - Three projects begin to widen SH 82 to four lanes from Carbondale to Basalt. One project adds two lanes to the Basalt Bypass.
1995 - SH 82 is four lanes from Glenwood Springs to just past Basalt, about 25 miles. A new bridge replaces the old "Green Monster" truss bridge (circa 1930) near Wingo Junction. - 1996-2000 - Various projects begin and are completed to widen SH 82 between Basalt and Aspen: between Aspen Village and Brush Creek Road, 1996-1998; Shale Bluffs (between Brush Creek Road and Aspen Airport Business Center), 1997-2000; between Gerbazdale and Aspen Village and the Holland Hills project (between Basalt and Wingo Bridge), 1998-1999; and Snowmass Creek East & West, 1999-2000.
- 2000 - Two projects begin that will complete the widening of SH 82 between Glenwood Springs and Aspen: Aspen Airport Business Center to Buttermilk began in the summer of 2000 and was completed in the fall of 2001, and Snowmass Canyon began in the fall of 2000, and was completed in the fall of 2004.
For a listing of completed projects within the CO 82 Corridor Expansion, access the Highway Expansion section below.
The environment plays an important role in all our lives and the route between Glenwood Springs and Aspen is host to some of the most scenic and majestic spots in the world.
Environmental concerns have always been a significant part of the work that is done along SH 82, and extensive precautions are taken to maintain the natural setting.
Every mile of SH 82 has followed a lengthy, meticulous process to protect and preserve the Roaring Fork Valley.
In addition, CDOT consulted with the Colorado Division of Wildlife on design and location of wildlife crossings, as shown in the Wetlands and Wildlife section below. The River and Riparian section below includes a diagram demonstrating the procedures CDOT followed to protect the river and riparian zone during construction.
To better protect elk and motorists alike, CDOT has realigned the new highway and designed a series of game crossing bridges based on established deer and elk migration routes.
At these points, the highway was raised to enable deer and elk to pass underneath the highway at ground level.
This highway realignment is intended to reduce the number of animals crossing the highway by allowing an undercrossing.
The combination of game fencing and elevated bridges should help ensure safe passage for wildlife and motorists.
Throughout the design and construction phases of the SH 82 expansion project, extensive precautions were taken to maintain the integrity and health of the Roaring Fork River and preserve its riparian zones.
These precautions included:
- Restricting construction so that it did not directly affect the river
- Intercepting and filtering highway runoff using the latest management practices
- Establishing an erosion control plan for the entire length of the project
- Preserving essential wetland and riparian zones
How do I know where HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes are located?
HOV lanes on Highway 82 are indicated by a large, white diamond painted on the pavement in the right lane, as well as standard black and white regulatory as each Highway 82 project segment is completed.
Are HOV lane restrictions enforced 24 hours a day?
No! As a matter of fact, HOV lanes are open to all motorists 21 hours a day up valley and 21 hours a day down valley. HOV lanes will be strictly enforced Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. up valley (to Aspen) and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. down valley (to Basalt).
What is considered to be a High Occupancy Vehicle?
Primarily buses and carpools with at least two people in the car, counting the driver. Yes, kids count too! Motorcycles and alternative fuel vehicles can also use HOV lanes at all times, even if traveling alone.
Why does Highway 82 have HOV lanes?
In 1987, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process began for the section of highway between Basalt and Buttermilk. An EIS is required for most highway projects in order to determine the best transportation solutions and what is best for the environment. Because of the decisions in the study, peak-hour HOV lanes became a part of the Highway 82 widening plan. HOV lanes encourage carpooling and riding the bus, which helps improve our air quality.
What happens if I use the HOV lanes illegally during the restricted hours?
Drivers caught illegally in an HOV lane will be fined $65 for a first or second offense and $125 for a third and all subsequent offenses.
Aspen Village to Brush Creek Road
(Snowmass Village Entrance)
Completed July 1998
3.2 miles; $10 million
Holland Hills
(Basalt to Wingo Junction)
Completed November 1999
2.1 miles; $11 million
Gerbazdale to Aspen Village
Completed October 1999
1 mile; $6.5 million
Shale Bluffs
(Brush Creek Road to Airport Business Center)
Completed Summer 2000
1.3 miles; $25 million
Snowmass Creek East and West
Completed Fall 2000
1.5 miles; $19.8 million
Airport Business Center to Buttermilk
Completed November 2001
1.8 miles; $11.4 million
Snowmass Canyon
Completed Fall 2004
3.5 miles; $100 million
Resources
The following documents are available upon request. Please fill out a records request to access these documents in PDF format:
- Entrance To Aspen Project Objectives
- 1998 Record of Decision
- Election History by Topic
- Election History by Year
- Snapshot of bus and car information
- Background information on ETA
- Primer on the Entrance to Aspen
- The Future of Transit in the Roaring Fork Valley Region
- Entrance to Aspen Public Comments
- What we heard at Voices on the Entrance Meetings
- What we heard at the Keypad Voting Meetings
- Small Group Meetings Comment Summary
- Open House Comments
- Entrance to Aspen Re-Evaluation 2007
- 1.0 Reevaluation Entrance to Aspen Final 06-13-2007
- 1.1 Figure1a Preferred Alternative Alignment
- 1.2 Figure1b Preferred Alternative Alignment
- 2.0 Appendix C -Trails Detour Map
- Final Historic Resources Technical Report - February 2007
- Cover Page
- 23.0.1 Preferred Alternative Alignment Figure 1-1a
- 23.0.2 Preferred Alternative Alignment Figure 1-1b
- Figure 1-2 - Pitkin County Airport to Maroon Creek
- Figure 1-3 - Pitkin County Airport to Maroon Creek
- Figure 1-4 - Castle Creek to Rubey Park
- SH 82 Windshield Reconnaissance (July 11-13, 2006)
- Appendix B- Previous Agency Correspondence
- Appendix B-2007 Agency Correspondence
- Appendix C - Forms:
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Commercial Core
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Hynes
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Main Street
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Sardy
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Finley
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Taylor
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Brunton
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Smith
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Stitzer
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Maroon Creek Bridge
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - McClimont
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Castle Creek Power Plant
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Stimson
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Holden
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Colorado Midland RR
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - L'Auberge
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Berger
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Marlot Ditch
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Mountain Rescue
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Hickory House
- Cultural Resource Re-evaluation Form - Cortina Lodge
- Final Technical Reports - April 2007
- Cover
- 8.0 Water Quality
- Table of Contents
- 9.0 Upland & Floodplain Vegetation
- Introduction
- 10.0 Wetlands 1.1 Figure
- 1a for Introduction
- 11.0 Fisheries
- 1.2 Figure 1b for Introduction
- 12.0 Wildlife & T&E Species
- 2.0 Purpose & Need
- 13.0 Wild & Scenic Rivers
- 3.0 System Management
- 14.0 Floodplains
- 4.0 Traffic and Safety
- 15.0 Archaeology
- 5.0 Social Environment
- 16.0 Paleontology
- 5.1a Social - Fig 1a Aspen Trails
- 17.0 Section
- 4f5.1b Social - Figure 1b Aspen Trails
- 18.0 Farmlands
- 5.2 Social - Figure 2 City Zoning Map
- 19.0 Noise6.0 Economics
- 20.0 Visual Resources
- 7.0 Air Quality 21.0 Haz Materials
- 7.1 Air Quality Appendix A (Excel document)
- 22.0 Capital Costs
All files are in pdf format unless otherwise noted.
