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CDOT Blasting to Require Extended Closures of CO 119 on Monday

I wanted to ensure that everyone is aware of the following from CDOT regarding Monday's upcoming extended closure:

Colorado Department of Transportation, in partnership with Zak Dirt, is extending the closure of Colorado Highway 119 Boulder Canyon on Monday, Aug. 5, in order to deal with several large boulders expected to fall in the regular blast. 
 
The closure, from Arapahoe Avenue to Fourmile Canyon Road, is now scheduled from 10 a.m. to midnight, but if the work is completed earlier, the road will be opened earlier. 
 
After analyzing the nature of the canyon rock and the blast removal plan for Monday, CDOT determined that a large quantity of large boulders will come down when the removal takes place. These rocks are anticipated to be so large that they will likely require a second blast on the ground so that they can be removed from the highway. 
 
During this closure, motorists will be required to use the alternate routes of CO 72 or Lefthand Canyon Drive. Local resident access will be maintained between Fourmile Canyon Road and Nederland. Crews will work as quickly as they can, and if the work is completed before midnight, the highway will reopen early. 
 
Due to the unpredictable nature of blasting operations, it is difficult to predict how the rock will react to the blasts. CDOT engineers and geotechnical experts are continuously monitoring and adjusting the plans in order to minimize public impact, but will always utilize a full closure to maintain public safety. 
 
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, full closures for blasting will return to the regularly scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
To date, approximately 20,000 cubic yards of material has been removed from the canyon walls to make room for a more flood resilient canyon corridor. It’s all part of CDOT’s Whole System – Whole Safety initiative.
 
CDOT and the entire project team want to thank the surrounding communities for their patience throughout this project. As a reminder, motorists should always check the website, sign up text alerts and call the hotline before they travel the canyon to stay informed on current conditions.