James Canyon & James Creek flood recovery work begins week of May 15

Road will be reduced to one lane in multiple locations during project

Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County Transportation and its project partner and contractor Kelley Trucking, Inc. (KTI) anticipate beginning the James Canyon permanent flood recovery project at 7 a.m. on Monday, May 15. The project is expected to last until December 2018. Flood recovery-related permanent reconstruction will take place on 4.8 miles of James Canyon Drive between the intersection of Lefthand Canyon Drive and just west of Balarat Road/CR 87. In addition, 6,300 feet of stream restoration work will take place in various stretches of James and Little James creeks.

Travel During Construction – Multiple Single-Lane Closures 

To accommodate construction, KTI will be allowed to reduce James Canyon Drive to a single lane in multiple locations in the canyon. Some of these lane reductions will be in place 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Vehicular and bicycle travel will be controlled by either traffic control personnel (flaggers) or traffic signals. The length of delay will vary at each location, but are not to exceed 15-minutes.

Cycling Allowed During Construction

Cyclists will be permitted to ride on James Canyon Drive during construction, but they will be asked to follow the same travel restrictions as motor vehicles. Due to large volumes of heavy construction-related vehicular traffic, Boulder County Transportation is asking that cyclists ride James Canyon outside of normal working hours (see information below).

When cyclists traveling uphill towards Jamestown are stopped at traffic signals or by traffic control personnel, they will be asked to move to the side of the road in order to allow faster moving motor vehicles to proceed through the work zone before entering the zone themselves.

Project Work Hours: 

• Work will take place on weekdays (Monday through Friday)
• No weekend work unless absolutely necessary
• Working hours – March 1 to Oct. 31 – 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. (due to longer daylight availability)
• Working hours – Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 – 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• The project is anticipated to last until December 2018, weather permitting

Local Businesses Open – Access will be maintained at all times

The Jamestown Mercantile and the post office will maintain normal business hours during construction. Access to these establishments and residential driveways will be maintained at all times.

Project Goals and Objectives 

All Boulder County Transportation flood recovery projects have the same goals and objectives:

• Make the road, its infrastructure, and the creek system stronger in preparation for the next natural disaster – improved drainage structures, embankment stabilization, rockeries and retaining walls, and new subsurface and asphalt will help make this area more resilient towards the next flood
• Make the road safer for all modes of travel – a 4-foot uphill shoulder will be rebuilt on James Canyon Drive to give cyclists and pedestrians room to move outside of the main travel lane
• Improve drainage and prevent roadway overtopping
• Restore area creeks and the surrounding environment
• Stabilize slopes to prevent falling debris
• Maintain the environmental and aesthetic aspects of this beautiful land
• Maintain the cultural and historical significance of the area.

Project website and email listserv

You can find complete roadway travel restriction information by visiting www.JamesCanyon.com. While visiting the site, sign up for the project listserv to receive weekly and timely construction updates and up-to-the-minute information on roadway closures and travel delays. Travel restriction information for this project and all other county-related work is available at: www.BoCoConeZones.com.

For more information, contact Andrew Barth via email or call 303-441-1032. All current Boulder County Transportation project information is available at www.BoCoConeZones.com.