{"id":871341,"date":"2026-10-05T07:38:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/871341\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T07:38:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:38:22","slug":"grandview-interchange-floods-in-recent-rains-improvements-not-yet-planned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/871341\/","title":{"rendered":"Grandview Interchange floods in recent rains, improvements not yet planned"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DriversDrivers make their way around a flooded lane and mud Wednesday in the Wilson Gulch roundabout in Grandview. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)Jerry McBride\n<\/p>\n

Heavy and consistent September rains brought flooding to the Grandview Interchange, and it wasn\u2019t the first time.<\/p>\n

The north roundabout \u2013 the Wilson Gulch roundabout \u2013 saw flooding throughout the past two weeks of rain, and Colorado Department of Transportation helped clean up the area at least once in that time frame, according to CDOT officials.<\/p>\n

Dusty Ledford, CDOT\u2019s Durango area maintenance supervisor, said he wasn\u2019t sure exactly how many times the maintenance crews cleaned up the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is difficult to pinpoint an exact number because during rainstorms crews are proactive and make frequent passes with their plows through the area,\u201d he said in an email.<\/p>\n

CDOT crews used plows, bulldozers and backhoes to clear the highway. The department also used the same tools to scoop away mud and debris from ditches and pond areas, he said.<\/p>\n

Flooding at the north roundabout isn\u2019t unheard of. Lisa Schwantes, regional spokeswoman for CDOT, said there were issues in the summer during periods of significant rainfall around July or August.<\/p>\n

\"MudMud covers the island and part of the road by the south roundabout on Wednesday on U.S. Highway 550 in the Grandview area. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)Jerry McBride\n<\/p>\n

There are no solid plans in place to improve the roundabout and mitigate flooding, but it is being discussed. The city of Durango, CDOT and the Maverick gas station property owner are working together for a solution \u2013 \u201cwhich is tricky because of the permitting and different jurisdictions,\u201d said Kevin Curry, CDOT regional chief engineer. The Maverick gas station sits uphill of the roundabout.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunications amongst the entities have occurred in past years, as well as over the past couple of weeks with the onset of the recent substantial rains,\u201d he said in an email.<\/p>\n

Fixing the roundabout is no easy ask because of the cross-jurisdictional collaboration.<\/p>\n

\u201cResolving this issue is a challenge since the needed enhancements for improved drainage need to be installed on Wilson Gulch Road and Zyme Rock Road, off of our State right-of-way, and within the city limits,\u201d Curry said.<\/p>\n

\"ErosionErosion from this hillside covers the island and part of the road with mud above the south roundabout Wednesday on U.S. Highway 550 in the Grandview area. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)Jerry McBride\n<\/p>\n

The Grandview Interchange wasn\u2019t the only thing on CDOT\u2019s mind in recent weeks with heavy rain, either.<\/p>\n

\u201cCDOT crews have been kept busy by Mother Nature and her recent rainstorms,\u201d Schwantes said.<\/p>\n

She cited mudslides on U.S. Highway 550 north of Durango near Pinkerton Hot Springs, Colorado Highway 151 near Navajo Reservoir and another mudslide on Colorado Highway 145 north of Telluride. She said CDOT crews helped clear fallen rock during and after the heavy rains.<\/p>\n

\"DriversDrivers make their way around a flooded lane and mud Wednesday in the Wilson Gulch roundabout in Grandview. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)Jerry McBride\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had small rockfall incidents along the cliffside walls of all our high mountain passes and at lower elevations along steep slopes like the stretch of highway between Twin Buttes and Durango West subdivisions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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