Feds OK $6.5 Million for Flood-Damaged Southern Colorado Highways
Emergency funds will clear debris on U.S. 160, U.S. 550, and Colorado 151 before winter storms arrive.
By Mateo Thompson ·
The Federal Highway Administration approved $6.5 million on Friday to repair southern Colorado highways damaged by last week's severe flooding. The funds address immediate needs on three federal-aid routes: U.S. 160, U.S. 550, and Colorado 151. State officials said the money will go toward restoring roadway capacity before winter weather sets in.
The Colorado Department of Transportation estimated total flood damage at $65 million. CDOT requested 10% of that total through a federal quick release process earlier this week. The agency hopes the emergency funding allows crews to begin work immediately. Governor Jared Polis stated that businesses and emergency responders depend on these roads to move goods and people. He noted that crews are already working around the clock to clear debris and repave sections.
The Colorado Transportation Commission separately approved $5 million in state emergency funds for the same three highways. CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew emphasized the urgency of the timeline. She said that winter makes mountain terrain difficult to maintain. Restoring functionality to critical routes like U.S. 550 and U.S. 160 is imperative before conditions worsen.
Between October 22 and October 25, up to 7 inches of rain fell in southwest Colorado. The deluge caused widespread flooding that topped some roadways by four feet. Several highways and local roads closed during the event. Archuleta County officials reported that roughly a quarter of all roads in the county remained impassable as of earlier this week.
As of Saturday morning, Colorado 151 remained closed in both directions southwest of Pagosa Springs. Floodwaters destroyed two sections of the highway south of the U.S. 160 junction. Officials said the damage requires a long-term closure. U.S. 160 operated with alternating one-way traffic in two separate areas on Saturday. Traffic flowed between Oak Ridge Drive and Archuleta County Road 139 west of Pagosa Springs. It also flowed between Forest Service Road 667 and Rio Grande County Road 20 south of South Fork.
State transportation officials described serious damage to the section of U.S. 160 between Pagosa Springs and South Fork. The Rio Grande River undercut part of the road. A culvert failed and a retaining wall was damaged. The $65 million figure is a preliminary estimate because high water prevented crews from fully inspecting bridges and other structures. CDOT expects to provide a more accurate cost estimate in eight to 10 weeks.
The National Weather Service expects a weekend storm to bring heavy rain, snow, and more flooding to the area. Archuleta County officials have urged residents to evacuate before the weather arrives. The new federal and state funding aims to complete critical repairs before those conditions arrive.
