The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) opened a temporary one-lane bridge on CO 165 south after the permanent bridge was destroyed in the Aspen Acres fire in June. Work began on June 30 and was completed in less than 11 hours.
The bridge crosses a gulch at Mile Post 16.5 on CO 165, south of Beulah and the intersection of CO 165 and CO 78. Crews placed corrugated pipes to allow the gulch to flow and filled the space between and above the pipes to reach the grade of the roadway.
The bridge serves as an important access point for emergency services and as a southbound evacuation route for residents. The temporary emergency repair allows for alternating traffic and emergency vehicles, restores access and avoids traffic chokepoints.
“From Colorado’s frontline firefighters, local law enforcement, and our state workers including the hard working women and men of CDOT, Colorado has no shortage of bravery and can-do when times call for it,” Gov. Jared Polis said. “I applaud CDOT’s around-the-clock efforts to safely reopen the CO-165 bridge in less than 11 hours, allowing emergency operations to flow smoothly and residents to evacuate safely.”
CDOT plans a permanent repair and will monitor active wildfires statewide.