Project Information: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contractor Kiewit Western Companies have completed their work on US 160 on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass. Like the last phase of construction near Fun Valley, this current phase has also been completed a month ahead of schedule. Work had initially been scheduled for completion in July. This third phase of construction on the pass began on June 6, 2005, and work was suspended over the winter months. The project included a one-half mile stretch of US 160 east of the new tunnel, from the Big Meadows Reservoir access road (mile marker 174.7) east. Crews blasted and removed rock, widening the lanes (to 12 feet) and shoulders (to 8 feet) and upgrading guardrail to meet current federal safety standards. The contracted amount for the work $11.3 million.

Construction work on the pass has been completed.

Completed Projects:
Wolf Creek Pass - East Side: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) completed two project phases on the US 160 Wolf Creek Pass corridor east of the summit. The project completion was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday, November 5, at the new 900-foot tunnel. The event also focused on the timely completion of a 2.5-mile project phase between the Lonesome Dove camp/cabin site and an area further east known as Windy Point.

“With these safety improvements, the commercial lifeline to southwest Colorado will be enhanced in a manner that is consistent with the objective of the 28 Statewide Strategic Projects,” said State Transportation Commission Chairman Steve Parker. “Highway 160 will be safer and provide greater access to the rest of Colorado than we have ever experienced.”
The tunnel was constructed in two phases. Phase 1, contracted to Kiewit Western Company of Littleton for $10.3 million, began in late 2000 and involved blasting and excavating the tunnel. Phase 2, which began in late March 2003, was contracted to ASI, RCC of Buena Vista for $12.2 million and involved placing a final concrete lining, installing tunnel systems and reconstructing the highway, shifting it over approximately 40 feet to align with the tunnel. During construction of the tunnel, crews removed and hauled away a total of 180,000 cubic yards (or 324,000 tons) of rock from the mountainside (enough to fill a football field with material 108 feet high).

Wolf Creek Pass - West Side: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Kiewit Western Company began highway rehabilitation and drainage improvements on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass on August 7, 2000. The entire project covers about 11 miles, between Treasure Falls and the snow shed east of the pass summit. The first phase of the project was contracted to Kiewit for $4.7 million and involved drainage improvements and highway rehabilitation in spot locations over a seven-mile stretch extending from the summit westwards.
Phase II, which began September 10, 2001, was contracted to Nielson’s Skanska of Cortez for $7.16 million. Work involved rock blasting, improving the safety and sight distance of the westbound truck ramp approach, drainage improvements on the top 3.5 miles (including the snow shed) and final highway rehabilitation and paving of a total of five miles, (which overlapped the seven-mile stretch that was improved in Phase I). The project was mostly completed in October 2002, with some minor work--such as landscaping and snow shed lighting--finishing up in spring 2003.

Phase III, contracted to Nielsons for $8.1 million, began June 2, 2003. This final phase involved drainage improvements and highway rehabilitation beginning at Treasure Falls and extending east 5.4 miles towards the summit. Work was completed in late 2004.