Colorado Experience: The Glenwood Canyon Highway

Initially fraught with controversy and opposition, the Glenwood Canyon Highway is one of the most scenic highways in the United States. In collaboration with a citizen advisory committee and the use of context sensitive design, the Glenwood Canyon Highway was completed in 1992, and remains an architectural and engineering feat.
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[@jamesjohnson1790]

I flagged nine and a half years in Glenwood canyon. It's still in my heart.

[@jamesrea329]

Excellent video, but I’m surprised there was no mention that a railroad has also gone through this canyon for over 100 years. It’s a spectacular route that still has both passenger and freight service today. The tracks are visible in some of the shots in this video, mostly on the opposite side of the river from I-70.

[@dhoward5757]

Loved the old canyon drive, was worried about the new highway. Spent hours in traffic stops during the years of construction, ( Denver-Grand Junction) was in awe of the end results. Silt became a ghost town, Grand Valley became Parachute, Carbondale got a stop light and our peaceful Rocky Mountain paradise became a memory.

[@donpainter6644]

Very honored to be a part of this amazing project constructing the Hanging Lake Tunnels

[@Galen_G]

My family and I were there for the ribbon cutting. It was a glorious day and so amazing to walk through the tunnels before the traffic began. We were given a piece of the core rock as a memento. Ralph Trapani went on to construct the Likelike Highway in Hawaii and then Owl Creek Canyon Highway from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. All of these highways are beautiful and made a world of difference for travelers.

[@mountainsparky6031]

I watched this being built in the '80s and always regretted not stopping to photograph the amazing engineering, Thank you for documenting and commemorating the achievement.

[@Dennyheimke]

Rsersesrs add rska9ⁿ

[@BurntTransGarage]

I cannot express enough how much I love the Colorado Experience series. So many of them have covered parts of Colorado I visited as a kid. I remember driving through Glenwood Canyon as a kid while my parents told this exact story. Thank you.

[@sharonh2991]

I remember traveling through the Glenwood Canyon in the 80s in my early 20s. The road construction would often hold up the traffic, sometimes up to a couple of hours. We would just sit in the car and wait and sometimes we’d get out of the car and walk over to the river.

[@gailbruce1635]

I still remember the first time I drove through Glenwood Canyon. It was in 1971. The road was only a two lane road back then. As I drove down the road a train came through across the river from me. It was all so breathtaking, the huge canyon walls, the lonesome train and me. That evening was engraved in my memory forever. When they blasted out unfathomable tons of rock to build the interstate I was deeply grieved. I realize it was a necessity, and I’m thankful they put such a great effort to make the highway blend in with the surroundings, but every time I drive through that canyon I think about that day so long ago and wish I could still see the canyon as it was back then.

[@tedpeterson1156]

It was one of the last stretches of 2 lane left. White knuckle stuff in the winter with ice and blowing snow, at least for flat landers like me. Glad it's been upgraded.

[@robertemmons2260]

Seeing this video had brought back many memories of when I was a kid traveling through Glenwood canyon with my parents or with my school when we had traveled back and forth from Rifle to Denver back in the 80's. We had lived 40 miles away from Rifle on Piceance creek. I vaguely remember the construction of this highway through that canyon. I currently live in Vernal Utah, just 30 minutes east of Fort Duchesne where Betsy Chapoose lives.

[@ynot0714]

So glad I got to experience the canyon as a kid in the 70's and driving it myself in the early 80's. I remember there was just a pull off at Hanging Lake. Still so beautiful driving thru it now. Wish someone had a complete video when it was just a 2 laner. Nice video!

[@tracylund7407]

Very cool video about an awesome place! I blame a drive along I-70 from North of Moab to Denver for me becoming a geologist. So inspirational!

[@harrietetter9321]

been stopped many times during construction --sometimes 30-45 minutes -- people would get out and walk up and down -- meeting other travelers -- the beauty of it and watching the rafters down on the river -- we never minded -- i remember john denver was adamately against it and laid down in front of a grader

[@garryhatchett775]

One of my favorite scenic places.

[@davevornberger]

Excellent video! Such a beautiful drive through Glenwood Canyon to this day. I remember many trips in the late 80's through there and being stopped for blasting or other work and as someone mentioned in the comments, people would get out of their cars and talk and enjoy the Colorado weather while we waited. Ralph Trapani hosted our ASCE Student Chapter from Colorado State University field trip to the job site in the fall of 1987 - it was a great tour and behind the scenes look at all the work going on then.

[@andrewhosfeld]

Driving through the Glenwood Canyon at 5am to go to Eagle 🛫 is an experience. The darkest of dark at night. Worrying if one will see an obstruction to late, an animal on or going through the road or a rock slide. But driving through the canyon during sunrise is magical.

[@TheBandit7613]

Not to mention the extreme lack of maintenance on I-70 and many other Colorado roads. In places, the concrete is worn down to the rebar.

[@andrewhosfeld]

@@TheBandit7613 the Colorado Craters

[@chriskeen7174]

Especially during winter with the road icy! Aspen people going 80 in their Range Rovers, they have zero regard for safety!

[@janisblack2183]

As an avid motorcyclist from Canada, I have been grateful to have the opportunity to travel through the American Midwest on many occasions. My favourite highway stretch to date is this Glenwood Canyon stretch in Colorado. I immediately recognized all the Engineering marvels inclusive even by current standards. It is such a spectacular treasure that I plan on it’s route again and again when travelling the Midwestern corridor

[@fredharvey2720]

Colorado is not the Midwest

[@jackprier7727]

The stretch of I-70 thru Glenwood Canyon is the 2nd-most beautiful stretch of Interstate in the U.S. (1st is I-70 Green River to W terminus)-

[@loragunning5394]

I've driven Glenwood Canyon Highway a number of times since it opened and as an architect with a strong background in civil engineering, all I can say is that the experience never ceases to completely awe me. My only regret is that it is so short, only 12 miles long, and at interstate speeds, it's behind you much too quickly. If any upgrades to this stretch of highways are planned for anytime in the future, I can only hope pull-outs with educational kiosks will be included.

[@rdmckenner2862]

I live at east end of the canyon and drive through the canyon at least once a week. Every time I drive the canyon, I am blown away by how beautiful it is. Now CDOT needs to build an alternative route for when the canyon is closed.

[@TheBandit7613]

CDOT needs to perform some maintenance to these roads. Some of the worst in the country. Colorado and Arizona need some serious work done.

[@bradywilliams2666]

@@TheBandit7613 This is very true. Glenwood Canyon is one the worst roads I've ever driven on! I go through quite a bit.

[@davidconner-shover51]

@@bradywilliams2666 Poorly maintained, I remember how smooth and sweet all that fresh road was back in the '90s, now, ugh. Cottonwood Pass is an interesting detour, I've found myself driving it pretty regularly these last few years, In the Summer, I take it regularly, being about the same drive time from Gypsum to Basalt as the canyon is

[@sandratinsman3310]

After many years of driving through Glenwood Canyon, I continue to remain awed and feel privileged to enjoy it every time I pass through. This film gives me even more appreciation. Well done and thank you!

[@Miggy738]

So lucky to work in Silt and to be able to pass the canyon is an experience like no other. The Canyon literally has its on weather sometimes!

[@DavidDavis-pj4oh]

Utterly fantastic! That’s about all you can put this!!! Thanks ❤

[@Archie583]

As a kid growing up in Indiana, we used to visit my great aunt and uncle in Georgetown, Colorado for a couple of weeks every other summer as a stop on our way to visit my mother's family in California. My dad was a schoolteacher from Indiana who met my Californian mother while in the Army in WWII. He was stationed in California for a few months in 1942 preparatory to going overseas, and my parents drove to Reno to get married just prior to his overseas deployment. They remained married for 52 years until his death in 1994. As was typical of the time, my mom uprooted and moved from California to live with her husband in Indiana, with the promise that he would take her to California every other summer to visit her family. Together, my parents raised four boys, including me. I am the last surviving member of the family. The bi-yearly trip to California, always a road trip, gave us an excuse to spend time in the Rocky Mountains with my dad's Uncle Rance and Aunt Fannie, both born in the 1800's; he in 1877, and she in 1884. They homesteaded in Georgetown and lived right on US Hiway 6 & 50 on the side of the mountain overlooking Georgetown. Uncle Rance was 76 years old when I was born, so my earliest memories of him were when he was already in his 80's. He lived to be 95 years old, so I did get to know him a bit. The Rocky Mountains, and Georgetown in particular, were magical to a small midwestern boy from the flatlands of Indiana. We slept on feather beds, used an outhouse, drank fresh mountain spring water using a cup hanging on the side of the barrel where the water trickled in (a hole in the bottom of the barrel, drilled at precisely the right size, kept the barrel perpetually full), and ate fried "puffball" mushrooms. Uncle Rance took my dad, myself and my brothers on numerous hikes and trout-fishing trips, leaving us breathless. Uncle Rance at age 90 still climbed mountains like a mountain goat. I tell this whole story because Interstate 70 changed everything. Each time I visited as a boy, we reluctantly left Georgetown after our two-week visit, and would continue on Hiway 6 & 50 across the Continental Divide at Loveland Pass, through the mountains and eventually down into Glenwood Springs, across the desert of western Colorado and into Utah, and continue on Hwy 50 after Hiway 6 split off at Green River, Utah toward Las Vegas. We continued on 50 through Nevada (now known as "The Loneliest Road in America"), through Carson City and up into the Sierra past Lake Tahoe, over Echo Summit, and finally down into the San Joaquin Valley, my mother's childhood home. When I-70 was built, my great aunt and uncle suddenly found themselves living about 20 yards underneath a four-lane superhighway. The beautiful mountain spring that we drank from was gone. Constant traffic noise and the inability to walk up the side of the mountain to his favorite places caused my great uncle to make the decision to move from the land where he had built his home, and he died in an unfamiliar place in Arizona just a few years later, his wife following him in death just months later. If I sound a little bitter, I am. I am sure great care was taken in putting this freeway through Colorado, and that the ski resorts profited greatly from it. The drive through Glenwood Canyon is still pretty, and it is an engineering marvel. However, the concentration required to make the drive takes a lot away from the experience. Each time I drive it, I just feel sad.

[@jamescolman698]

Back in the early 1970's, I had just graduated from film school and was living and working in Glenwood Springs. I was fortunate to work with members of the first citizens advisory board to create a 16mm film about Glenwood Canyon that was shown to the Dept. of Transportation in Washington DC. At the time, the DOT was considering various routes for I-70 but Glenwood Canyon was their primary choice. The plan, at the time, was to "blast and cut" the canyon to construct the highway. The film I created was designed to show the beauty of the canyon and to offer up suggestions for "floating highways" like ones built in Italy. I'm proud of the small role I played in helping to bring about the current highway.

[@criscoleman]

Fascinating to realize that I have been through that canyon heading westbound. But because it was raining really hard, and we (i.e., the driver) were going through at a breakneck speed, I'm sure my attention was drawn away from the beauty that is shown in this video. Now I'm going to have to see if I can find a drive-through video on YT to see what I missed. This was a well-done video. There were so many marvelous things-the history, the working together of modern technology, the people affected by the road contributing, preserving the natural beauty of the canyon, but most especially the Indian perspective of the canyon. Our government hasn't been nice to the Indians; still aren't. I really enjoyed this production. Thank you Rocky Mountain PBS.

[@renicostareni2313]

❤🇺🇸👍wonderful history about this highway.👏🇺🇸👏

[@SiarlW]

The world class off interstate access to trails and natural areas through this section of interstate was neglected to be discussed. Glenwood Canyon is a national treasure.

[@momtoone93]

As a child in the 60's and 70's my family lived on the eastern side of the canyon. I remember the old two lane road and how dangerous at times it really was. Even though there was trepidation as to how putting the Interstate through the canyon would affect the beauty of the canyon, I have to say I love it! To me it has made the canyon even more beautiful because it's a lot safer than it used to be. I love traveling through the canyon. My only concern is that CDOT needs to come up with a better alternative for cars and semi's when the canyon is closed. Right now routing traffic more than 3hrs - 4hrs out of their way is a little ridiculous. Fix Cottonwood Pass so it can be used by all during closeures

[@anthonyrenaud5783]

I will be thinking of the Ute people, the trails and the ingenuity it took to build such an engineering marvel the next time I drive through Glenwood Canyon. I just wish they had more pull offs along the highway to enjoy more of the beauty of the canyon.

[@kiniburk]

I got my highway driving experience on the old Canyon Road. There were sections that were almost river level and flooded occasionally. It was always a beautiful drive, regardless of the season.

[@davidconner-shover51]

No mention of a few mistakes? I found the burning recycled tire wall to be quite memorable

[@justanotherdrunk]

Super fun to watch thanks!

[@johnsutherland168]

I remember Glenwood Canyon from travel through many years. I pass through the canyon on my way to Denver and/or Boulder. It's a beautiful pathway through the Rockies, and yes, it is also a lot safer than the also beautiful Million Dollar Highway (Rte 550) that travels through Silverton and Ouray. ;-)

[@ResearchNational]

I barely remember camping in Glenwood but I do remember sitting on the highway for hours while they worked on it back in tje 80's.

[@petem6846]

Wonderful to get the story behind this incredibly beautiful highway. Just as nice, a government effort sensitive to the wishes of the people they were trying to serve! Undoubtedly, it significantly increased the cost but having driven the canyon many times, it was well worth it.

[@herschelmayo2727]

The first time I drove the length of that canyon was before the interstate. It was beautiful, and the road nestled into the natural landscape. Twenty years later, and there was a comcrete monstrosity that trampled over and isolated everything that made the previous drive beautiful.

[@jamesdaniels3699]

I've traveled on this road, it's awesome 👍

[@ilenemorris8285]

My favorite canyon, so beautiful!

[@davidchapman1519]

Still can't belive colorado destroyed this thing of beauty with I70. Glad I have a few photos and memories of the canyon before the destuctuon.

[@ronduff4325]

Great program , I've driven through Glenwood Canyon several times and ready for another trip .

[@michaelkenna2024]

A sensational overview of a project which has no equal within the entire Interstate Highway system. The Glenwood Canyon area is gorgeous. This engineering feat respected the canyon at every possible curve. This highway is a double-helix in it’s design flow, utility, and deep respect for nature. It is an incredible achievement.

[@Adam_Gray]

Truly a masterpiece of engineering marvels and very educational.

[@AndySmith-cu3en]

I get that this was hard and expensive to build and all, but as a river guide on the Colorado through glenwood canyon I get angry when I hear people say that you can hardly notice the Highway. The sound of traffic on I-70 along the river is deafening. It’s oppressive. I have headaches every day from it.

[@rahabvon-horn9152]

I've drivin through Glenwood Canyon, many times in the 80s, during construction; To see the final result, leavin the beautiful canyon is amazing.

[@bruceperry1408]

No mention of the amazing bike trail that REA LLY give you the picture of canyon and construction effort.

[@edmccaffrey1]

Engineer Sam Caudill will probably never get the credit he deserves for this magnificent stretch of highway.

[@carlsilverman754]

Been there! beautidul

[@carolinebray82]

I love Glenwood canyon, I can't wait to drive thru again some day, and I hope the bike trails open next summer. I love how they had seeds and plants to grow on the canyon!! Such a green thing, around. I love it.

[@ubomninomen7765]

Engineering is in my dna, so I love docs like this. To an Easterner familiar with the highways around Baltimore and DC, this piece is an enchanting weave. Where I70 begins, just on the west end of Baltimore, a sign from 2004 shows the mileage to Cove Fort, 2200. Few people know or care about Cove Fort. It was added as a bit of whimsy to the sign showing mileage to places like Columbus, St. Louis, and Denver. All roads lead west, and some die in the desert. Who knew that the western extension of i70 past Denver was so new? Or that anything lay beyond Denver? Of course, I'm so old, I still think that DIA is new.

[@markrobinowitz8473]

I-70 was never completed in Baltimore because it was slated to bulldoze a park. In 1966, Congress passed "Section 4(f)" of the Transportation Act which prohibits federal aid highways through parks. This stopped that road (fortunately). A similar project, I-40 through Overton Park in Memphis, was also stopped due to 4(f) and the Supreme Court upheld this law in 1971. Unfortunately, 4(f) doesn't apply to places that merely have extraordinary beauty, there must be a "park" designation. Long after the oil era is a distant memory the earth moving this and similar projects did will remain and probably will inspire fantastic stories of what their distant ancestors were up to.

[@thesuperioraffection4502]

@@markrobinowitz8473 If oil is ever a distant memory, will return to 1820's type living. Oil is used for MANY things, not just cars.

[@tammylewis2408]

@@markrobinowitz8473 They genuinely need to fix that end because it's now a park-and-ride at that end. It's a shame they can't use the Glenwood Canyon example to complete that end of blending it with the scenery. Times have changed. People who once objected are now relenting because designers are now more environmentally conscious while looking for ways to blend in with the scenery; look at PA's Blue Route (I-476 from Chester at i-95 to Mid-County Toll/NE Extension), which took years to complete because of similar issues.

[@markrobinowitz8473]

NEPA is National Environmental Policy Act, not "protection." It is bureaucratic but doesn't do that much "protection".

[@petermundorff6100]

I think the old highway 6 was more fun driving than the interstate

[@alanjohnson2613]

Excellant video as a civil engineer I followed this.

[@bobdlowrider]

I road home from CA on my bike in 1993. The Glenwood Canyon part of I 70 is one of the best highways I've ever been on!

[@TheBandit7613]

Haven't driven it lately? It's in terrible condition. Little to no maintenance done in the last 40 years.

[@goldenretriever6261]

@@TheBandit7613 I drove it last week. I'm a Canadian tourist and it was better than most roads we have in Quebec.

[@TheBandit7613]

@@goldenretriever6261 You must have some bad roads. I-70 thru the Glenwood Canyon has received very little maintenance in the last 30 years. The expansion joints are falling apart, the concrete is worn. The longer they wait, the more expensive the repairs will be. Colorado is falling behind on road repairs. They'll need to raise fuel taxes.

[@roadkingdream]

Colorado belongs to the Ute Nation. GIVE IT BACK!!!!

[@4thholebridge]

Phenomenal engineering masterpiece ❤❤❤❤❤

[@neethadesilva5747]

America the most beautiful!

[@agento5952]

Power to the Ute people!

[@140corvairbuggy5]

Nello Greer designed the road in the early 80's and he is my father

[@tomcat5151]

Is the goal of this series to make folks want to move to Colorado? Because, yes please

[@NBZW]

Do you realize how the California invasion of the 70’s has destroyed the once fantastic state of Colorado? Don’t think you do 😢

[@groverearp2600]

We often hear Texans crying about " don't California'ize our Texas " well we want to keep Colorado , Colorado

[@gerardgarcia7127]

We need to thank you a Republican President for the creation of the interstate highway system. Great achievement!!

[@unlvqasl]

And why does politics have to be brought into this discussion. Given the realities of current politics the republican president who created the interstate highway system could never be elected today.

[@gerardgarcia7127]

@@unlvqasl it’s not politics, it’s just a fact.

[@markrobinowitz8473]

@@unlvqasl Eisenhower would be a moderate Democrat by today's standards. "Beware the military industrial complex" - January 17, 1961

[@tedpeterson1156]

He was just copying you know who .. you know

[@gerardgarcia7127]

@@markrobinowitz8473 The Democrat Party has embraced Socialism / Communism. They fully support regimes like Cuba, China and Venezuela.

[@Dragon90815a]

it needs more trees to protect it from rock slides

[@johnodo764]

5-Star General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, Former President of the United States of America. Just Sayin'!

[@Mark_Bayer]

One of the most beautiful roads in the country

[@lorengordon9626]

Having grown up in GrandJunction I travelled through this canyon hundreds of times before the project was started. I always thought the highway project was a total mess and still do , much like Eisenhour tunnel , what a joke. This road could have been done much better , but too many cooks spoil the broth.

[@markrobinowitz8473]

Meanwhile, parts of Grand Junction used uranium mine tailings for construction material. Tragic.

[@lorengordon9626]

@@markrobinowitz8473 Yep , and along with the rulison project failure the govt and associated companies had to figure out what to do with the tailings and the leftovers from the urainium refined sand and such from the old plant over by the river. What a fiasco.

[@tompelham7035]

Engineering marvel indeed, but is it really justifiable?!! Once again, depends who you ask”

[@geoffreymartin2764]

It is great that they have not totally destroyed the Ute tribe homeland.

[@akalksander9184]

It's a a ridiculous engineering expense. Imagine how many more roads could've been built w/ the excess money spent.

[@anthonyrotella751]

This is an absolutely beautiful highway but most people just will not obey the speed limits even riding the rear end of cars that do & cussing them.

[@TheBandit7613]

If CDOT would only maintain what the taxpayers paid to build. I-70 is in poor condition.

[@mattsavage]

pay more taxes then...

[@charliesgrumma5388]

*FUN FACT: Any human being born in America is a Native American no matter color, race, religion, or anything else.*

[@bobcampbell5151]

Native blood leads way way back . Get DNA test and your prop a True Native American Not Indian .But American

[@rr3918]

Talk about just sitting there patting their own backs. Jesus get someone that isn't payed to say everything

[@chriskeller5516]

The highway cost approximately $1 trillion in today’s money. Based on 1992 dollars, at the end of the 12 years project. 83 billion dollars a mile. This is a low end estimate. We excel at spending our kids tax dollars.

[@mtngrammy6953]

Glenwood Canyon will never be the same. Since putting the Interstate through the canyon, it has lost so much of its beauty and charm. There are many place that can no longer be seen due to the highway. Since the highway was built, it has experienced many landslides and has been closed so many times. One of the worst decisions in the state. Yes, it is faster, but for what cost? It is such a disappointment.

[@climbjt]

Spend more money on projects like this and less money on useless government employees

[@777noirkat]

Nice but,sickening to realize the unbelievable deadly toxic stew of petrochemicals that are spewed into this Ute homeland every second those thousands of vehicles pass by and think “oh what an engineering triumph “ sad

[@HARLEYMLM1966]

what an incredible waste of money!!!!!!

[@neoanderson7492]

The record for driving across the country was set in In May 2020, Arne Toman, Doug Tabbutt, and spotter Dunadel Daryoush set the new cannonball record of 25 hours and 39 minutes in a modified 2016 Audi S6 disguised to look like a Ford Taurus police interceptor