With wildfire season looming, crews will begin to cut trees along some of Colorado’s busiest highways in a $4 million emergency effort aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic fires before summer intensifies.
The Colorado Department of Transportation targeted five highways determined to be at the highest risk for wildfires this summer. Work is expected to continue through the end of June.
Drivers should expect alternating traffic along the following routes:
— Colorado 119 from U.S. 6 in Clear Creek Canyon north to the Nederland area
— Colorado 72 from U.S. 6 in Coal Creek Canyon through Pinecliffe and Nederland to near Allenspark
— Colorado 93 between Golden and Boulder
— Colorado 128 near the junction with Colorado 93, west of Broomfield
— Colorado 67 from the Woodland Park area north toward Westcreek
The emergency project, announced Tuesday, comes as fire officials warn of a significantly high risk of devastating wildfires as temperatures rise in the coming months. It’s the first time CDOT has conducted a fire mitigation project of this magnitude, a spokesperson said.
In a news conference last month with some of the state’s top fire experts, Gov. Jared Polis urged the state to prepare, as the drought, paired with long-term consequences of a changing climate, makes Colorado particularly vulnerable.
Contractors will cut trees Mondays through Thursdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., advancing about 3 miles per day. CDOT urged drivers to slow down, follow flagger instructions and remain alert when passing through work zones.
“Reducing fuel loads along our highway corridors is a critical step in protecting both our infrastructure and the communities these roads serve,” Jim Fox, CDOT’s deputy director of maintenance said in a statement. “This emergency project allows us to address the highest-risk areas quickly and aggressively before fire season peaks.”
As of Tuesday, the entire state was considered to be experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions. About 15% of the state was facing exceptional drought, while 47% of the state was in extreme drought.
CDOT said additional highways may be added to the project if funding allows.