CDOT’s avalanche mitigation is a very significant program for public safety along our high mountain passes. When large amounts of snow falls, especially in short lengths of time, the potential for avalanche danger grows. When snow builds up at known snow slide paths near the roadway, crews (with assistance from Colorado Avalanche Information Center [CAIC] avalanche forecasters) may determine that avalanche control operations are necessary. Purposely triggered avalanches prevent large amounts of snow from building up, eliminating the risk of unexpected, natural slides from occurring at unknown times with the potential danger of snow affecting the open highway.
The general procedure includes:
- crews close the highway to the traveling public
- specially trained crews trigger the snow slide with the use of explosives
- crews use heavy equipment to clear any snow that may have fallen on the road surface
- crews re-open the highway for safe travel
Avalanche mitigation across Colorado includes several methods of triggering avalanches and snow slides including Remote Avalanche Control (RAC) units. US 50 Monarch Pass has three Gazex RAC units on Monarch Pass. These RAC units allow for safer operations, more efficiency with the missions, and safer, more reliable travel conditions for motorists, reducing the duration of roadway closures.
How RAC works: Permanently installed, remotely controlled devices are placed at key slide paths on mountains and ridgelines. The systems use compressed air and gasses to create a concussive blast that triggers snow slides under controlled conditions. The systems prevent large amounts of snow from accumulating, decreasing the risk of unexpected, natural avalanches and long delays due to cleanup and extended safety closures.
