Page 6
Lost Creek Guide
Dry Weather Worsens in Colorado; 17% of State is in “Exceptional Drought” The drought is happening just a year after most of Colorado was declared drought-free.
The summer drought that lingered throughout Colorado has become worse. The entire state is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions and nearly 17% of the land area is in exceptional drought, the most extreme category, the U.S. Drought Monitor said. The drought is happening just a year after most of Colorado was declared drought-free. The western part of the state has been hit the hardest, with Kiowa County on the Eastern Plains also experiencing exceptional drought, which can bring dust storms and cripple agriculture, Colorado Public Radio reported. Conditions have deteriorated over the past year due to drier conditions, warmer temperatures and a higher level of evaporation. It has also been a perfect backdrop for wildfires. “That’s exactly why we’re still seeing a high fire danger and still seeing active fires in places,” said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the U.S. Drought Monitor. “Typically this time of year we’re cooling off and starting to get wetter. That just hasn’t happened yet.” There are several active fires in the state, the largest of which is in Larimer County in the north. The Cameron Peak fire has torched more than 200 square miles (518 square kilometers) and is 42% contained. A fire began on Wednesday just south of Kremmling near Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests. The wildfire burned more than 80 acres (32 hectares) in just a few hours, prompting evacuations. It is the fourth time in two decades — following 2002, 2006 and 2012 — that the entire state has been classified as abnormally dry or in drought. Tom Renwick, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the state could return to pre-2020 figures as long as the winter provides some precipitation. “If we get a decent winter, and it doesn’t have to be, ‘Oh my God, the most amazing winter ever,’ but a decent winter with a decent amount of snowfall, we’ll get rid of the drought,” Renwick said. “It looks really bad, but you know, I wouldn’t freak out just yet.”
October 21, 2020
I-76 Road Work near Fort Morgan and Brush! Nearing Completion Early
FORT MORGAN – The Colorado Department of Transportation anticipates reopening all lanes on Interstate 76 near Fort Morgan and Brush this month after a major resurfacing project. Meeting an aggressive construction schedule this season means little to no impact on I-76 through the center of Morgan County in 2021. Between now and the end of the month, CDOT will reopen lanes as soon as work is complete in a particular section. “We’re thrilled to wrap up this project in a single season. Thank you to the project team for the well thought out and executed plan and the town of Brush! and its citizens for your partnership and patience to make this a successful project. Several bridges and over 20 lane-miles of I-76 were in critical need of repair. We’re turning over a smoother and safer highway,” said CDOT regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. Although mainline highway paving on I-76 was complete this summer, guardrail and bridge railing replacement required 24/7 lane closures to remain in place. The contractor team led by Martin Marietta is currently placing permanent signs and delineators, grinding rumble strips, and installing final erosion control measures. Final lane striping is also underway. The U.S. Highway 34 corridor through Fort Morgan and Brush also received attention this season. Crews repaired four bridges, resurfaced 24 lane-miles, and reconstructed five blocks in downtown Brush this year. Work on U.S. 34 is ahead of schedule with over 80 percent of the planned work complete in one construction season instead of two. When the contactor returns in spring, asphalt resurfacing work will be limited to a one-mile segment in Fort Morgan. PROJECT INFORMATION For additional information about this project, contact the project team. Project hotline: 970-427-4005 Project email: i76us34@workzone.info Project web page: https://www.codot.gov/projects/i-76-us-34-fort-morgan-brushresurfacing Construction alerts: Text CONSTRUCT to 21000 and sign up for updates at https:// www.codot.gov/projects/i-76-us-34-fort-morgan-brush-resurfacing. For information on travel conditions visit COTrip.org, sign up for GovDelivery, or call 511. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and CDOT’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/coloradodot. REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones. • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits. • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected. • Watch for workers. Drive with caution. • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times. • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you. • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so. • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones. • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you. • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones. • Be patient! COVID-19 Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, road maintenance and construction continues on CDOT projects with social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, staying at home when possible, and avoiding nonessential travel. With fewer vehicles on the roads, CDOT crews will be able to work more efficiently and safely. WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY. Last year, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization›s operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely. ABOUT CDOT CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Gov. Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.
Keene Craft Mercantile
A Special Place Where Talented People Bring Their Home-made Crafts to Sell Booths are $25 and Tables are $20 We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm 65 Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado 303-910-0640
