What Happened to the Archway?
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Monday, 12/8/08
On 8 December 2008 at approximately 10:30 a.m., a dump truck caused significant damage to the
archway at the intersection of Lookout Road and Idylwild Trail. According to police officers at the scene,
the driver made a delivery to the Lucas construction site on Idylwild Trail and inadvertantly left the box
in the up position when he left the site. The damage to the archway was the result of the collision between
the raised box and the archway. The truck was also damaged.
The accident was investigated by a City Of Boulder Policeman, a Boulder County Sheriff's Officer, and a State
Police Officer. We have a copy of the accident report that includes the truck owner's name, address, phone
number, and insurance information. Two representatives of the truck company visited the scene and spoke
with us.
The road was closed by the Boulder County Transportation Department.
The archway is on a Boulder County road right of way. Several phone calls were made to the Boulder County
Transportation Department, but were not returned by close of business.
Wednesday, 12/10/08
This morning we met with representatives of the Boulder County Transportation Department, an engineering
firm that does business with the County, and several representatives of construction
firms. The decision was made to remove the archway as expeditiously as practical. The rational
for immediate removal was that the archway, in its damaged condition, was a liability issue and the road
closure was an inconvenience to the community. The County has expedited the permit process so as not to
delay the start of work. The demolition contractor plans to begin the process on Thursday, 11 December,
and be finished in three to four days.
Our future plan is to rebuild the archway to essentially the same design. The engineering firm will produce
drawings of the archway as built and the redesign will start there.
The trucking company's insurance company has been contacted and will be financially responsible for the
demolition and the reconstruction.
A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the Boulder County Transportation Department (George Gerstle, Dan
Hershman, and Mike Thomas), to the demolition contractor (Steve Holley), and to Peter Loris and his
engineering firm for responding to our requests so quickly. In addition, the trucking company (Colorado
Materials) and its insurance company have been very cooperative.
Friday, 5/28/10
After a year and a half spent haggling with the trucker's insurance company and working our way through the
City of Boulder and Boulder County infrastructures, we are finally ready to reconstruct the archway! The
County Commissioners have given their permission for the closing of Idylwild Trail at Lookout Road
starting on Monday, 14 June. The major part of the reconstruction should take two weeks or less and the
road should be open again by Monday, 28 June.
Unfortunately, there will be no public access or egress under the archway during this two week period. The
prefered routing into Gunbarrel Green will be via Jay Road and Carter Trail. There will be no access
through the Shepherd of the Hills Church parking lot on Harvest Road.
After 28 June, another week or so of cleanup and completing minor details and the job will be finished.
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page updated 5/28/10
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