Glenwood Canyon Interstate-70 Project
Dubbed by some as “the crown jewel of the Interstate system,” the Glenwood Canyon portion of I-70 winds through the sheer cliffs of a rugged and beautiful landscape. Engineer designers worked with the public to address aesthetic and environmental concerns so that the important corridor westward of Denver would not simply be “blasted out of the landscape.” Begun in 1964, construction go-aheads faced various delays, with work completed in 1993. Engineers had to deal with unstable talus slopes, which were pumped full with grout when a solid base for bridges was needed. The highway employs a crack-free pavement with a 100-year design life.
Activity Details
Activity Type:Trips and Destinations
Discipline:Civil
Topic(s):Space/Transportation
Grade:K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Time:Full day
Fun Fact:Professional Engineer John Haley, one of the engineers on the project, chronicled the design and
construction adventure in a picture-filled book “Wooing a Harsh Mistress: Glenwood Canyon’s Highway Odyssey.
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