The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has upped its game when it comes to handling the looming threat of avalanches along the notorious Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor. In a recent test observed near the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels, CDOT put its new Remote Avalanche Control System to the test, and, according to the early reports, it was a success.
The upgrade swaps out old World War II artillery, a tool of a bygone era, with the cutting-edge Wyssen Avalanche Control system. Previously dependent on daylight for operations, the new system allows CDOT's Winter Operations Team to address avalanche dangers day or night, thereby reducing disruptions for travelers, reported CDOT. The Wyssen system operates remotely, allowing crews to initiate controlled avalanches safely from a distance, mitigating the traditional risks associated with such procedures.
"This technology represents a major advancement in how we keep I-70 open and safe during Colorado's harsh winter storms," Brian Gorsage, CDOT’s avalanche program manager, told CDOT. The installation of the Wyssen units in southern Colorado has already seen improvements in safety and the speed of operations, indicating a positive outlook for their deployment at this new location.
The strategic placement of the remote avalanche control equipment along the corridor, between mile points 211 and 218, specifically aims at reducing the impact on ski traffic during morning peak hours. Gorsage emphasized the role of the technology in enhancing motorist and team protection while keeping traffic flowing. Rolling out this $800,000 project is part of CDOT's sustained effort to boost safety and reliability on Colorado's mountain highways, which have become well-known for their tumultuous winter conditions. Helicopter loading charges were successfully used on the new Wyssen equipment on the east side of the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels, illustrating the high-tech nature of the new avalanche control method.
