PROJECT OVERVIEW
At an elevation of 12,000 feet above US Highway 550 in Ouray County, Colorado, this avalanche mitigation project delivered critical safety infrastructure for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). As Principal Contractor, Geovert’s scope encompassed the installation of remote avalanche control systems across three known slide paths. The project required specialized construction methods to overcome limited access conditions, integrating rope access techniques and helicopter operations while maintaining traffic flow on the active highway below.
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PROJECT SOLUTION
The installation comprised two permanent Gazex avalanche exploders at Blue Point/Blue Willow locations and three O'bellx systems at Mother Cline, with fixed bases and seasonal deployment capabilities. Construction methodology centered on rope access techniques for anchor installation and formwork, supported by helicopter operations for concrete placement and materials delivery. The systems operate through controlled gas explosions, mixing oxygen with either propane or hydrogen gas in strategically positioned exploder nozzles. This remote-operation capability eliminates manual intervention in hazardous conditions, providing CDOT with a sophisticated, long-term solution for avalanche risk management. The successful project delivery in this challenging alpine environment demonstrated effective management of high-elevation workforce constraints and complex logistics, establishing reliable infrastructure for year-round avalanche mitigation.
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Blue Point & Mother Cline, CO
Avalanche Mitigation
AVALANCHE CONTROL SYSTEM INSTALLATION, GAZEX INSTALLATION, O'BELLX INSTALLATION, DESIGN & CONSTRUCT, GROUND ANCHORS, HELICOPTER WORK, ROPE ACCESS, LIMITED ACCESS