HomeMy WebLinkAboutR22-065 Closure of High Road in the Town of Red Cliff DocuSign Envelope ID: 5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1CB0
Commissioner chandler-Henry moved adoption
of the following Resolution:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS •
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 2022 - 065
RESOLUTION FOR THE CLOSURE OF HIGH ROAD IN THE TOWN OF RED CLIFF
WHEREAS,the Town of Red Cliff, located within Eagle County, has reported numerous
minor rockfall incidents from the cliff face above High Road as referenced and detailed in the
attached Rockfall Report from Colorado Geological Survey, Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, on April 18,2022 a rock approximately 4 feet by 1.5 feet by 1 foot,weighing
approximately 900 pounds fell from approximately 50 feet directly above High Road resulting in
a small pot hole in the roadway; and
WHEREAS,the Town of Red Cliff staff has concerns of similar sized rocks falling in the
future which jeopardizes the safety of motorists and pedestrians that use High Road; and
WHEREAS, the upper portion of High Road is located within unincorporated Eagle
County; and
WHEREAS, to address the Town of Red Cliff's concerns, the Eagle County Engineering
Department has contracted with Geovert, LLC ("Contractor") to perform rock scaling which will
remove loose rocks that have the potential to fall onto High Road in the future; and
WHEREAS,Contractor will require a complete road closure to perform rock scaling work
for the safety and protection of work crews, road equipment, and the traveling public; and
WHEREAS,C.R.S. §42-4-106(6)(a)provides that local authorities may temporarily close
Colorado roads or highways by resolution stating the closure is necessary for the safety and
protection of work crews, road equipment, and the traveling public.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO:
THAT, High Road shall be closed to all traffic, including but not limited to pedestrian
traffic, bicycle traffic, and vehicular traffic. The closure is necessary for the safety and protection
of Contractor's work crews, road equipment, and traveling public; and
THAT, the location of the closure and the detour for High Road is indicated on the detour
plan that is attached as Exhibit B. The duration of the closure is anticipated to be 5 working days,
Monday through Friday. The work is anticipated to take over a week between August 1, 2022 and
October 24, 2022, depending upon the contractor's availability; and
DocuSign Envelope ID:5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1 CB0
THAT, the Eagle County Project Engineer will be responsible for notifying emergency
services and service providers in the area prior to the closure. The Eagle County Project Engineer
will coordinate with the Eagle County Communications Department to issue a News Release prior
to the closure; and
THAT, the board hereby finds, determines and declares that this Resolution is necessary
for the public health, safety,and welfare of the residents of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado.
MOVED, READ, AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of the
County of Eagle, State of Colorado, at its regular meeting held the 16th day of August ,
2022.
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF
E EAGIf� COLORADO, By and Through Its
1..° °o1. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: I"
f—DocuSignedby: DocuSigned by:
IA A, IT 1 vitJA, COi 0 R AO° BY: Cr''' ,f��""'�`S`
Clerk t Boaraiwof eiltheQmeeney
County Commissioners County Commissioners Chair
DocuSigned by:
auka,Acr__
Kathy mailer-Henry
Commissioner
p-DocuSigned by:
Ault clAtir
`MativRetient73-
Commissioner
Commissioner Scherr seconded adoption of the foregoing resolution. The roll
having been called, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner McQueeney Aye
Commissioner Chandler-Henry Aye
Commissioner Scherr Aye
This Resolution passed by scherr vote of the Board of County
Commissioners of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1 CB0
EXHIBIT A
ROCKFALL REPORT FROM COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
3
DocuSign Envelope ID:5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1 CB0
EXHIBIT A COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
1801 19th Street
Golden, Colorado 80401 Gp1ARA,0
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Karen
Ma 25 2017
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Geologist
Barry Smith
Director,Emergency Management 1 1 Location:
Eagle County NW /4 of SE /4 of Section 19,
PO Box 850, T6S,R8OW of the 6th PM
Eagle, CO 81631 39.5086,-106.3763
Subject: Rockfall on High Road(County Road 709),Eagle County,Town of Red Cliff;
CGS Unique No. EA-17-0004
Dear Mr. Smith:
As requested,we met onsite with you and John Harris from Eagle County, and Red Cliff Town Manager,Barb
Smith, on May 4,2017. The purpose of our visit was to observe and evaluate ongoing rockfall problems on
High Road at the intersection with State Highway 24. This letter discusses our observations, the rockfall risk,
and potential mitigation concepts. Water Street, located below High Road,also accesses town. Picture 1 shows
the roads, cliff outcrop, and general location of the town of Red Cliff.
Summary
Observations indicate individual rocks up to about 3 feet in diameter will continue regularly impacting High
Road beneath the cliff. There is also risk of blockage of both roads from pillars of fractured rock with potential
to fail as massive rock slides. Limited sight distance along High Road coupled with its location immediately
below and adjacent to the rock fall source adds to the risk of impacts to cars and their occupants. Rockfall
contractors should be engaged to stabilize and reinforce the cliff outcrop.
Safety Hazard
The Town Manager estimates rockfall incidents are occurring more than 100 days per year on High Road near
its intersection with Highway 24 with rockfall rate increasing. The school bus no longer uses High Road,due
in part to the rockfall hazard,taking instead the longer,more circuitous Water Street. Drivers use the wrong
lane to avoid travelling adjacent to the cliff and speed by the problem area. Commuter traffic from Leadville
results in long wait times at the stop sign,an area with frequent rockfall. Life threatening rockfall poses on
ongoing public safety issue for the town.
Rock Outcrop
Highly fractured Sawatch Sandstone overlying older crystalline rock forms the cliff on the north side of High
Road. This outcrop extends about 1,125 feet from the intersection with Highway 24 along the north side of
High Road and is up to about 65 feet high in places. Geologic structure results in bedding planes dipping about
10 degrees to the northeast. Rockfall is largely controlled by vertical fractures occurring in roughly rectangular
joint sets resulting in typical blocks up to 3 feet in dimension although many other sizes also occur.Block
failure along fractures results in overhangs and destabilized rock susceptible to future failure. Pillars of loose
rock have formed this way along the cliff face, some without underlying support.
The outcrop includes zones of highly fractured, loose rock including rock debris fields and columns, or pillars
of rock with open fractures. Toppling of pillars and free fall of rock blocks appear to be common modes of
DocuSign Envelope ID:5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1CB0
EXHIBIT-A
Barry Smith
May 25, 2017
Page 2 of 2
failure although rock rolling from debris fields also occurs. The outcrop is susceptible to climatic conditions
especially rainfall,the action of freeze thaw cycles, and in cases of extremely loose pillars,the effects of wind.
Potential Mitigation and Stabilization
The cliff face from which the rock fall originates rises vertically from the edge of the north side of the road
leaving no room for catchments or ditches to intercept rockfall. A rockfall shed could limit the exposure to
rockfall but is a very expensive option and would only protect the location of the shed and not Water Street
below. Stabilization of the existing cliff face is likely the most cost effective mitigation method for this site. A
phased approach might include scaling loose rock, trimming rock after scaling, followed by reinforcement with
tensioned rock anchors and/or mesh,the application of shotcrete, and/or buttressing where key blocks are
missing.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this rockfall problem. If you have questions or require further
evaluation,please call me at 303-384-2654, or e-mail jlovekin@mines.edu.
Sincerely,
Orr"-^AL—. ,••,412-
Jonathan R. Lovekin, P.G.
Senior Engineering Geologist
DocuSign Envelope ID:5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1 CB0
EXHIBIT-A Rock Fall Photographs Red Cliff, Colorado
Eagle County
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Picture 1. From Highway 24 bridge of outcrop, High Road, Red Cliff in distance and Water Street below.
Note the talus slope between High Road and Water Street.
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Picture 2. Extent of outcrop above High Road. Note pillars of rock and fractures visible
from across the valley.
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DocuSign Envelope ID:5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1CB0
EXHIBIT-A Rock Fall Photographs Red Cliff, Colorado
Eagle County
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Picture 3. Stop sign area at High Road and Highway 24. Typical rockfall block sizes in foreground.
Rock overhang above roadway.
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Picture 4. Vertical fractures. Loose key blocks Picture 5. Vertical fractures forming pillars
the failure of which destabilizes rocks above. of loose rock above High Road.
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DocuSign Envelope ID:5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1CB0
EXHIBIT-A Rock Fall Photographs Red Cliff, Colorado
Eagle County
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Picture 6. Pillars forming where supporting key blocks have failed resulting in overhangs of loose rock.
Site is above the stop sign on High Road.
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Picture 7. Vertical cliff with overhangs directly above High Road. Highway 24 bridge in distance.
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DocuSign Envelope ID:5F82FE17-5537-4372-A34C-B617B9BD1CB0
EXHIBIT B
DETOUR PLAN
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