Public feedback will be used to create a hybrid option

Boulder County, Colo. - In
response to public comment on the original set of plans for flood-related
permanent reconstruction of two sections of lower Fourmile Canyon Drive , Boulder
County and its engineering team have created a new “zero rock cut” design
scenario that eliminates the need for removing rock from the uphill side of the
road.

Both
the zero rock cut and rock cut design scenarios are available for public comment until Friday, Dec. 11 at www.4MileCanyon.com, use the “Lower
Fourmile Canyon Drive Reconstruction Options” link.

The new Zero Rock
Cut scenario reduces many of the visual impacts by eliminating any rock removal
from the uphill side of the road; however, it also increases impacts to some
sections of the creek. The Zero Rock Cut design scenario requires the
installation of retaining walls and other stream bank stabilization measures in
order to protect the road from being completely washed away in a significant
future flood event, while still making every effort to reduce impacts to the
creek and surrounding properties. With this scenario, Boulder County would do
everything it can to minimize the visual impacts of any retaining walls, and
much of the bank stabilization would be buried and revegetated.

The previously
released “Rock Cut” scenario would move the roadway away from the creek, not
require as many retaining walls or guardrails, and have fewer impacts on the
creek.

Both design options
include an approximate one-foot strip of paved buffer between the downhill lane
and the edge of pavement, two 11-foot travel lanes, an approximate 4’ uphill
paved shoulder (within the two construction zones only), and drainage ditch
improvements on the uphill side of the road. The primary function of the uphill
shoulder is to hold and convey water that is coming down the hillside and
prevent it from inundating the road.

After the Dec. 11
public comment deadline, Boulder County will incorporate feedback, where
applicable, to create a new design that incorporates aspects of both design
scenarios in order to complete permanent flood recovery-related construction of
two sections of lower Fourmile Canyon Drive: 1) Between mile marker 1 and
Poorman Road; and, 2) just past Logan Mill Road to Salina Junction.

The new set of plans
will be presented at an open house at a date to be determined and will also be
made available for review at www.4MileCanyon.com.

• The county’s goal is
  to make permanent repairs to the flood damaged portions of Fourmile Canyon that
  can:
• Withstand future flooding;
• Make the road safer;
• Reduce the impact of flooding on residents
  adjacent to the roadway and creek; and,
• Maintain the special visual, environmental,
  and community character of the canyon.

It is not possible
to rebuild lower Fourmile Canyon Drive in a way that accomplishes these goals
without either moving the road away from the creek and into the hillside, or
strengthening the creek-side of the road.

For
more information on the project, contact Andrew Barth, Transportation
Department communications specialist, at abarth@bouldercounty.org or call
303-441-1032.

All current Boulder
County Transportation roadway project information, including regular
maintenance and flood-recovery activity, can be found at www.BoCoConeZones.com.