Last time I drove
Guanella Pass, the side from Grant to the pass was no longer maintained, and Park County had signs they were abandoning the road. This was about 3 years back,. and things may have changed, but it was nearly impassible by car - large holes in the road, unremoved rocks, etc. I would think it would be a real challenge for a road bike, tourer or anything but a mtn bike.
OK - I found this update. Looks like you would be bicycling right in the middle of a major reconstruction project, with the worst part of the road not sceduled for completion of reconstruction until the fall of 2012:
Guanella Pass Road
PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET
2007
Project Summary
The Guanella Pass Road connects the communities of Grant, on the south, and Georgetown, on the north. The road is 23.7 miles in length and passes through the Pike-San Isabel and Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forests. The road is used primarily for recreational traffic. The current reconstruction project called Phase 1 is 8.8 miles in length, beginning 9.3 miles north of Grant and ending 5.6 miles south of Georgetown, at the Xcel power plant. The construction cost of the project is $20.1 million. The purpose of the project is to provide a road that will serve the existing and future traffic in a manner that is conducive to safety, durability, and economy of maintenance.
Current Road Condition
Guanella Pass Road has been in very bad shape for many years with potholes, washboards, and ruts. In many areas the gravel surface is worn down to native soil and has large protruding rocks. Maintaining the road is a considerable expense to Park and Clear Creek Counties. As a result of the roadway’s poor condition it is causing environmental damage because of dust and inadequate drainage and erosion control.
Reconstructed Road
The plans for this project were developed by the Federal Highway Administration, in cooperation with the Forest Service, Park County, and Clear Creek County, after listening to the public for over 15 years. Six alternatives were considered, and the selected alternative minimizes full reconstruction yet improves safety, enhances the environment, and reduces maintenance, all in support of the purpose and need of the project. The project consists of 19 percent full reconstruction, 18 percent light reconstruction, and 63 percent rehabilitation. The amount of pavement on the road will increase by only 8 percent, largely in areas of very steep grades. The new road closely follows the existing alignment in order to minimize impacts, and includes extensive use of retaining walls. Existing culverts at stream crossings have been replaced by open-bottom structures that restore the natural stream channel. The project will help the Forest Service manage recreation on the pass by formalizing parking areas and pullouts, eliminating existing informal parking areas and pullouts, providing winter closure parking, and creating formal parking for dispersed camping.
Project Schedule
Phase 1 is planned for completion in August 2007. Phase 2 consists of the roadway from the Cabin Creek Hydro Electric Plant to Georgetown and is expected to begin construction in September 2007 and finish during the fall of 2009. The final section of Phase 3 from Grant to Shelf Road is anticipated to begin construction in early 2010 and be finished in the fall of 2012.
Safety and Traffic Control
As with all heavy construction work, safety is a primary concern during the reconstruction of the Guanella Pass Road. Please obey all traffic control signs and construction zone flaggers. There is no stopping or parking in any active construction area. Due to the nature of the work, and the very limited construction right-of-way, traffic delays of up to 30 minutes may be required during the week. And, at times the road may be closed to all traffic from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. However the road will be open on weekends, without construction delays, from 6:00 p.m. on Friday to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday and on National holidays.
Questions
The construction of Guanella Pass Road is under the direction of the Federal Highway Administration and more information can be found at
www.cflhd.gov under Projects Under Construction. The project office is currently located in Georgetown, CO and the office number is 303-569-2378. The project staff is as follows:
Brian Dobling Jim Kerrigan
Project Engineer Assistant Project Engineer