Highway 119 Rough Surface

Gilpin School Community,

The Gilpin County School District RE-1 wants to inform all stakeholders that we are continuing to work cooperatively with our construction partner, ESCO Construction, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and other relevant public agencies to complete the School District’s sanitary sewer construction project and obtain final approval for the work conducted along a portion of Colorado Highway 119. The project will connect the school campus to the Black Hawk/Central City Sanitation District system, replacing the school’s existing wastewater treatment facility and resolve long-term non-compliance with state requirements.

We acknowledge and take seriously the concerns that community members and motorists have expressed about some segments of Highway 119 that were affected by construction activity, including uneven pavement surfaces and manholes. We have actively initiated and engaged in discussions with ESCO, CDOT, and the school’s project management team to identify practical and realistic options for addressing

improvements. Regrettably, those discussions have not yet resulted in a feasible solution that is acceptable

to ESCO and CDOT.

We understand the frustration experienced by our community members when these conditions have not been resolved as fast as you, or we, would hope and we appreciate the patience of residents, families, staff, students, and travelers along Highway 119. Our goal is to continue working in good faith with all concerned so the project can be completed safely, responsibly, and as efficiently as possible, including coming to a solution among the parties involved concerning highway issues.

Because Highway 119 is a state highway, decisions regarding roadway requirements, surface restoration standards, and acceptance of work within the highway right-of-way involve CDOT and the appropriate project professionals. The School District is not the highway authority and cannot unilaterally approve proposed remedies. Similarly, ESCO, as the contractor responsible for construction activities, must coordinate with CDOT on solutions and project closeout items.

The School District has encouraged continued coordination among ESCO, CDOT, and the School District’s project management team to determine a timely resolution. The School District remains committed to being a constructive partner and in supporting reasonable solutions that protect public safety, preserve taxpayer resources, and solve the concerns about the highway.