Repairs continue on third day of Uintah Street closure in Colorado Springs
Scott Harrison
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Road Warrior was back on Friday at the scene of the four-block closure on Uintah Street that has been in effect since late Wednesday afternoon.
It was a second full day of detours for drivers along the busy street.
Crews with the city and Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) took a break overnight and returned to continue repairs to the Uintah bridge over Shooks Run Creek.
Officials revealed on Thursday that a routine inspection by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) discovered a “void” beneath the bridge that had compromised a utility line.
As one crew began excavating into the street on the eastbound side, another crew was working under the bridge.
Officials haven’t explained their precise repair strategy, but still hope to meet their original goal of reopening the street by the end of the week; whether that happens on Friday or Saturday is unclear.
What remains unexplained is the void’s size, how it developed, how it’s compromising a utility line, and what kind of line it is.
More equipment arrived on Friday: Metal boxes to protect workers inside the excavated trench, and vacuum trucks to suck out standing water.
As observed on Thursday, crews appear to be focusing on the stormwater drainage system.
It also appears that a robot or remote-controlled device will be used to inspect a stormwater pipeline.
Passing neighbors reflected on how the construction affects them.
“It’s more convenient because there’s so much traffic that comes through here, so it makes my neighborhood a little bit quieter, and getting out of my neighborhood has been a little bit easier,” said Heather Laney, who lives near the intersection of Uintah and Arcadia streets.
Vicky Lewis lives on one of the detour routes—Institute Street.
“Lots of traffic, lots of cars speeding down because they’re having to take a slightly longer route,” she explained. “So, a lot more noise.”