ASPEN, Colo.—Putting permanent toilets on top of Independence Pass is proving to be tougher than expected.
The Forest Service plans to replace seven portable toilets on the Continental Divide with permanent ones. Forest Service officials expected CXT Concrete Buildings to deliver two buildings Friday, but they were delayed due to the complicated logistics and the extra costs of hauling them up Colorado 82 from Twin Lakes on the east side of the 12,095-foot pass.
Kurt Mee, a sales manager with CXT Inc., said the timetable has now been shifted toward the end of September.
Moving the two precast concrete buildings and two underground vaults on customized trailers is expected to require eight pilot cars, a state trooper escort and the closure of Colorado 82 for at least half an hour.
“There are a lot of issues when you go into something like this and there are a lot of additional costs,” Mee said.
Jon Morrissey, the Leadville District Ranger for the San Isabel National Forest, said “now they want quite a bit more money.” The bathroom buildings will cost about $80,000, before the extra transportation costs.
Morrissey said a call between the Forest Service and CXT is set for Wednesday.
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Information from: Aspen Daily News,
