Rushing water closes a highway in Western Colorado WRITERS ON THE RANGE

passing northern Colorado, had 100 culverts needing work. e one near Paonia apparently landed too far down on the list.

In what might be termed an oversight, CDOT issued statements to the media labeling the washout a “sinkhole.” According to the United States Geological Survey,

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com however, sinkholes have no entry or exit. ey occur when subsurface material caves in, usually during a drought. e rusty culvert on Highway 133 crumpled on April 29, allowing the usually meek Bear Creek to start excavating the roadway. CDOT was alerted and began monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, drivers continued to use the road until the early morning of May 3, when high water pushed the culvert down the hillside. After that, a 10-foot-wide section of highway collapsed.

RUTH DANIELS Advertising & Sales rdaniels@coloradocommunitymedia.com

KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Over the next three weeks, high water gouged an ever-deeper streambed through the road.

Other road damage in the area was discovered May 24 when fast runo washed out the seasonal Kebler Pass Road. e Forest Service said that a paved section near the resort town of Crested Butte was gone.

According to Gunnison County Sheri Adam Murdie, “Kebler is a bigger washout than Bear Creek and took the whole road out.”

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