Colorado plans to increase remote avalanche blasters to enhance safety on mountain roads and prevent snow slides.
Colorado: The state is ramping up its avalanche control efforts. They’re planning to nearly double the number of remote-controlled avalanche blasters on mountain ridges. This move is all about keeping highways safe from snow slides, which can be pretty dangerous.
These blasters will be fired at night to trigger controlled avalanches when traffic is lighter. It’s a smart way to manage the risk and keep the roads open for everyone, including tourists and locals.
These devices are pretty high-tech. They’re set up at elevations reaching 12,600 feet and use a mix of propane and gas to create blasts. Some even hang explosives from tall towers to manage the snow better.
Currently, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) operates 54 of these blasters, firing them around 200 times a year to prevent natural avalanches. They’ve got a lot of ground to cover, with over 500 avalanche paths along major highways like I-70.
In addition to the remote blasters, CDOT also uses old Army howitzers and helicopters to drop explosives on snow-laden mountainsides. It’s a whole operation to keep the roads clear and safe.
They’re looking to add 50 more remote systems, pending approval from the U.S. Forest Service. This expansion will start this summer along I-70, where millions of vehicles travel each winter.
Brian Gorsage, the avalanche control coordinator, describes the blasts as a sight to see. You get an orange flash and a loud boom, which is pretty impressive. But even with nighttime blasts, avalanches can still hit the roads, so they have snowplows ready to clear the way quickly.
CDOT estimates that every hour I-70 is closed for avalanche control costs the Colorado economy about $1.6 million. They’ve had to close the highway multiple times this year alone.
Managing avalanches is just part of life in Colorado’s mountainous regions. Gorsage emphasizes that keeping everyone moving is a top priority, and they’re doing their best to work with nature to protect the roads.
Since the early 1900s, avalanches have claimed 16 lives on Colorado highways. After a tragic incident in 1992, CDOT started its avalanche safety program, and thankfully, no drivers have died in avalanches since then.
However, avalanches still pose a risk to vehicles. Just last year, one hit 10 cars on Berthoud Pass, causing a lengthy closure. In another incident, an avalanche buried a pickup truck and toppled a Subaru.
Backcountry enthusiasts are also at risk, with avalanche incidents increasing significantly in recent years. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reports a rise in the number of people affected by avalanches.
Avalanches are a natural occurrence in the Rockies, and they play a role in the ecosystem. The state sees about 5,000 avalanches a year, but nature can produce many more.
Predicting avalanches is getting trickier, and CDOT’s chief meteorologist notes that climate change might be influencing this trend. Unusual weather patterns can create conditions that lead to more avalanches.
There’s a push for modernizing avalanche control methods across several western states. CDOT aims to phase out the use of military howitzers by 2030, moving towards more advanced systems.
Colorado started using remote-control blasters in 2015 to replace unpredictable natural slides with controlled ones. The Forest Service approved the initial installation after considering various environmental impacts.
CDOT is preparing to invest tens of millions into this project, with ongoing maintenance costs. They’re waiting for federal approval to add more blasters.
Local communities and the ski industry are on board with this shift. Grand Lake’s mayor praised the new approach, noting it’s a significant improvement over past methods that often led to road closures.
While the blasters might not blend in perfectly with the landscape, the focus is on creating safer travel conditions. Residents are eager for fewer disruptions and better access to their favorite winter activities.
