A stretch of U.S. 34 between Estes Park and Loveland will close for nine months starting this fall.
The closure is needed to complete repairs to the highway damaged by the . Rock-blasting and construction is scheduled to begin in October and continue through June 2017. The work will be done between mile markers 77 and 80.
Drivers will be detoured to U.S. 36 and Colorado 66 during the work.
Only people who live in Big Thompson Canyon will be able to travel on that portion of U.S. 34. They will be allowed to travel during morning and evening rush hour, and will require pilot cars in each direction, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
School buses also will be permitted, as well as emergency responders and people who work in the canyon.
Canyon residents will be given permits that allow them to travel on the highway. Information about the permits will be made available to residents in September.
Smaller construction projects in the canyon this summer also will cause delays, starting in July.
