CDOT to replace avalanche mitigation system on Loveland Pass over concerns of ‘catastrophic failure’
A Gazex avalanche mitigation system is pictured on Loveland Pass.
Colorado Department of Transportation/Courtesy photo
The Colorado Transportation Commission has voted to authorize $2 million to replace the avalanche mitigation systems at Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6.
The avalanche mitigation systems produced by Gazex were installed along a set of slide paths known as the Seven Sisters in 2015, Colorado Department of Transportation Deputy Chief Financial Officer Bethany Nicholas told the commission at its November meeting.
The remote-controlled systems are “known to be unreliable and present an elevated risk of catastrophic failure,” Nicholas said. The systems on the east side of Loveland Pass have experienced three failures, the most recent happening last February, she said.
The Seven Sisters is an active slide path that avalanches regularly. Last winter, no one was injured when a vehicle was caught in an avalanche from the Seven Sisters, resulting in Loveland Pass closing for several hours.
CDOT Division of Maintenance and Operations Director Shawn Smith clarified that a “catastrophic failure” of these avalanche systems doesn’t pose a risk to the public or anyone else.
A maintenance person repairs a Blazex avalanche mitigation system on Loveland Pass. Colorado Department of Transportation/Courtesy photo)
When a failure occurs, the system “basically self-implodes” and does not function as it is supposed to, Smith said. A team of maintainers then has to hike up to remove the cylinders from the Gazex systems and an avalauncher, or a compressed-gas cannon that fires projectiles, has to be used to maintain the avalanche paths instead, he said.
Smith said CDOT hopes to install an avalanche mitigation system similar to others along the Interstate 70 corridor that can be loaded by helicopter.
CDOT Strategic Communications Lead Stacia Sellers said in an email that the $2 million will cover the cost of replacing the Gazex systems on Loveland Pass, but the department has not determined which avalanche mitigation system will be used.
CDOT also has Gazex equipment on Berthoud Pass on U.S. Highway 40, Monarch Pass on U.S. Highway 50 and on U.S. Highway 550, Sellers said. She did not state whether there are plans to replace these additional Gazex systems.
Sellers said the Gazex systems on Loveland Pass are no longer covered by warranty. She said all systems on Loveland Pass are currently operational and are scheduled to be replaced during the summer.
“CDOT will still be able to safely conduct avalanche mitigation on Loveland Pass,” Sellers said. “The traveling public will not be impacted.”
The Transportation Commission voted unanimously to approve the $2 million from its program reserve balance.
