This week, Summit County’s design-build team of Ecological Resource Consultants/Tezak Heavy Equipment (ERC/Tezak) continues major earthwork operations on the Swan River Restoration project site. The before and after photos below taken from the top of the historic tailings pile at the Tiger Townsite shows just how much the landscape has changed throughout the course of this construction season.  

November 3, 2015 (view north)

As of September 6, 2016 (view north)

Most of the work this week will remain focused on the downstream end of the project as crews excavate within Tiger Road in preparation for  installation of the new crossing. Crossing installation is anticipated to be fully complete towards the end of September, or early October 2016. A temporary detour is now in place creating a new traffic pattern around this work zone. While work is occurring, you may experience periodic delays on the portions of Tiger Road passing through the project area.

Crews are also nearing completion of construction on the new channel that will flow beneath the new crossing. For now, the channel terminates at the Tiger Road detour. Note that the new channel is currently dry. Flows will continue to be diverted around this area until after the crossing is installed and downstream channel connection complete. Working in dry conditions is much easier for construction crews and helps avoid downstream sedimentation. 

Work is scheduled to continue through November 2016, followed by a winter shut-down period, before recommencing in spring 2017. Additional information about Swan River Restoration Project is available at RestoreTheSwanRiver.com as well as on the Open Space and Trails Special Projects web page. If you have additional questions about the restoration project, you can contact Summit County Open Space and Trails Director Brian Lorch, or Open Space and Trails Resource Specialist Jason Lederer, or call 970.668.4060.