A coalition of Summit County governments and fire departments expressed disappointment, if not hostility, toward Denver Water over Tuesday’s last-minute announcement to close Dillon Dam Road at midnight.
Denver Water issued a statement at 5 p.m. stressing there is no imminent threat, but “the potential for catastrophic consequences downstream” was too great to leave the road open. Since 9/11, the utility has spent more than $10 million to beef up security.
“Having exhausted other options and still being uncomfortable with the level of risk, we consider road closure the action necessary to best protect the residents of Summit County, as well as the water supply,” Denver Water board menber Penfield Tate said in a statement.
The closure blocks one of just three roads that cross the county, said Summit County Commissioner Thomas Davidson.
Seven local agencies — including the Summit County Commission and towns of Frisco, Silverthorne and Dillon — issued a joint statement Tuesday night saying they might sue Denver Water, which owns the dam and the one-mile road across it.
The Denver Water board made the decision on July 2, but held off announcing it until Tuesday. Local governments and emergency responders were offered no role in the decision, said Brandon Williams, a spokesman for Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue.
“We’re very disappointed and obviously it came as a great surprise,” he said.
State Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, was dismayed by Denver Water’s handling of the closure.
“If there’s a real, credible threat I want to know about it,” he said. “But most importantly local law enforcement need to know about it.”
Denver Water said rescue vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists would still be allowed to cross.
“Obviously this is not our preferred mode of communication or cooperation,” Denver Water spokeswoman Stacy Chesney said in response to the backlash. “But the board felt it was necessary to minimize the vulnerability between the time the decision was made and the closure.”
Denver Water has hired an engineering firm to determine if there are possible alternative routes around the reservoir.
“We understand that the closure will inconvenience motorists in Summit County,” Tate said. “However, we have concluded that the grave danger presented by a dam failure outweighs the disruption to travelers.”
Sara Rosaglio, the night manager at Dillon Dam Brewery, four blocks away, was bummed out to hear the news of the midnight closure.
“Aw, bummer,” she said. “I use that road all the time. A lot of locals do to avoid the highway. It’s a kind of secret locals’ shortcut to get (from Dillon) to Frisco and Silverthorne.”
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
Summit County statement
The following joint statement was approved by the Summit County Board of County Commissioners, the towns of Frisco, Silverthorne and Dillon, the Summit County government, Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue:
