Why I Love Highway 70

[cdonnelly0626]

I just read through this thread and learned some interesting trivia! I've almost exclusively driven the I-70 under cover of pre-dawn or post-dusk darkness, when travel is quick but visual and mental stimuli are lacking.

[rijaca]

So much misinformation being posted. Read this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_70_in_Colorado

Some highlights....

Route generally follows what was US 6 west of Idaho Spgs, and US 40 east of Idaho Spgs (from Denver). A 50/285/24 route from Pueblo was once considered. A tunnel underneath the Gore Range was considered and rejected due to Wilderness. The tunnels at the Continental Divide (Eisenhower and Johnson) were completed in 1973 and 1979. The section thru Glenwood Canyon wasn't completed until 1992.

[TallGrass]

What route to take? The Vail Pass segment was the subject of much controversy before it was constructed along a route that parallels or shares much of the U.S. 6 route. The Colorado Department of Highways (CDOH) originally proposed to build I-70 west from Silverthorne via the South Willow Creek alignment, through the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, tunneling under the Gore Range and Red Buffalo Pass, and continuing west via the Gore Creek alignment to Vail (see map). The CDOH dropped the idea after many adversarial public hearings where there was much opposition to going through a wilderness area.

https://www.codot.gov/about/CDOTHistory ... nnels.html

More: https://www.codot.gov/about/CDOTHistory ... erstate-70

[Scott P]

A 50/285/24 route from Pueblo was once considered. A tunnel underneath the Gore Range was considered and rejected due to Wilderness.

As also mentioned in that article, Highway 40 was also a proposed alternative; in fact at one time it was the preferred alternative. This has a positive effect if you work in highway engineering (I do) because the free way sized right of way was already bought decades ago. that means for on projects on Highway 40 you don't have to worry about obtaining right of way or worry about houses or private property in the way (at least for the sections of highway I am familiar with).

Of note, the State of Utah was very much against the current alignment of I-70. At the time the Utah side of I-70 was almost devoid of population (much of it still is), so the State of Utah thought that they would get little benefit from the highway, but have to share expenses of trying to keep it open. Much of I-70 on the Utah side was built on virgin ground where there were no existing roads (the 110 miles between Green River and Salina is still the longest stretch with no gas stations or houses). Utah wanted the Highway 40 alignment to be Highway 40, but in the end, the Feds said no because it would be too close to I-80 and there would be too big of a gap between I-70 and I-40 if the Highway 40 alignment was used.

[sheller]

I love 70, because it's not 285. So tired of taking 285 back to Denver in the dark.

[HikesInGeologicTime]

A 50/285/24 route from Pueblo was once considered.

That seems like it would've been easier to build, but I can see why it got rejected, with Denver getting shafted.

As also mentioned in that article, Highway 40 was also a proposed alternative; in fact at one time it was the preferred alternative. This has a positive effect if you work in highway engineering (I do) because the free way sized right of way was already bought decades ago. that means for on projects on Highway 40 you don't have to worry about obtaining right of way or worry about houses or private property in the way (at least for the sections of highway I am familiar with).

What would they have done with the Berthoud Pass segment? Those hairpin turns seem a little out of step with interstate standards...

I love 70, because it's not 285. So tired of taking 285 back to Denver in the dark.

Having spent last summer working my way through the Sawatch fourteeners (only three left!), I usually drive 285 from Denver in the dark, but yeah, I'm also done with that stretch of road!

[jmanner]

What would they have done with the Berthoud Pass segment? Those hairpin turns seem a little out of step with interstate standards...

Tunnel; just like the Loveland Pass relationship with the Eisenhower.

[HikesInGeologicTime]

What would they have done with the Berthoud Pass segment? Those hairpin turns seem a little out of step with interstate standards...

Tunnel; just like the Loveland Pass relationship with the Eisenhower.

Makes sense. Also almost makes me wish they'd gone with that route, since Berthoud Pass also makes me cry on a regular basis!

[Oman]

About 20 years ago, some eco-devo types pitched a toll tunnel beneath Berthoud Pass to help make Grand County look more like Summit County / Highlands Ranch. That effort failed because of lack of loot; a local backlash; and geologic problems with something called the Berthoud Pass fault.

http://www.co.clear-creek.co.us/Documen ... /View/2523

[HikesInGeologicTime]

I had never heard of the Berthoud Pass Fault before! Guess I now have my afternoon procrastination hole!

The lack of funds preventing the tunnel's construction makes sense, considering it wouldn't have been dug as part of the interstate project. I wonder if there'll ever be a revived discussion, given how much the southeastern part of Grand County is starting to take after Highlands Ranch. There's already been buzz about turning Rollins Pass into an operating roadway again, so I imagine they're open to all kinds of environmentally and logistically questionable ideas to increase traffic.

[LURE]

I had never heard of the Berthoud Pass Fault before! Guess I now have my afternoon procrastination hole!

I think most geologic maps have it named the Ranch Creek Fault. It trends south and west from Rollins Pass down to where US 40 could start being called Main Street. Interestingly, there are already tunnels in the area around Rollins Pass - don't forget the Moffat tunnel for a train and trans mountain diversion water. The Ranch Creek (Berthoud Pass) Fault goes right over? under? through? the Moffat Tunnel.

There are also literally a thousand other faults in the area, just drop a pin on a map anywhere and there will likely be a dozen faults within a quarter mile. Same goes for the entire state really. I'm sure the Berthoud Fault though is a little more interesting than the rest if it was part of the decision not to tunnel.

[jmanner]

So, I was talking to a coworker who's family has owend a place in Fraser since the late '80s and supposedly the Grand County people are super not into any improvements to the transportation system to Winter Park or Fraser for fear that it would become a suburb of Boulder. Which makes sense if you think about it, if they started running regular train service to and from that area it would blow up.

Personally, as a Denver tax payer and Mary Jane junky, I would love for there to be a new bore under Rollins(next to Moffat) since it would only be a 45 minute drive to the Fraser Valley then. Or at least a cheaper transit option, like finishing the B Line and then extended commuter rail on into Grand County along the rail rightway. This would also take a good 5-10,000 cars off I-70, saving some of the whining. I can understand people's fears there though. Noone wants Tabernash turning into a Exurb of Boulder/Denver.

There are also literally a thousand other faults in the area, just drop a pin on a map anywhere and there will likely be a dozen faults within a quarter mile. Same goes for the entire state really.

As I recall they had some issues with weird faults with the Eisenhower tunnel.