Back to top

Construction

Raising a dam Stay informed Project review and permitting
Current construction activities

Current work activities:

  • Crusher plant operation is underway. The crusher plant is located near the quarry. The crusher plant will produce the rock, gravel and sand needed for the dam raise. This is reducing truck traffic coming to the site.
  • Batch plant assembly and testing is ongoing. The batch plant will take materials produced at the crusher plant (rock, gravel and sand), and mix them with cement, fly ash and water from the reservoir to create the concrete for the dam raise.
  • A temporary batch plant is located at the base of the dam and produces concrete for dam foundation preparation. At times, there will be road restrictions on Gross Dam Road to allow for concrete deliveries from the temporary batch plant to the dam abutments. Road restriction notices are provided via email and My Map.
  • Quarry development continues. This will create rocks and sand for concrete production. This development includes excavation and drilling and blasting.
  • Construction site development is ongoing. This work includes constructing maintenance areas and storage locations. Onsite offices have been added for workers.
  • Drilling and blasting activities support site development, dam foundation preparation and quarry excavation. The contractor drills in specific locations and then loosens the material with blasting activities. Notifications are provided via email and My Map.
  • Dam foundation preparation creates a stable base for the expanded dam. This concrete placement is separate from the main dam structure. The foundation must be completed before the dam raise, which will begin in 2024.
  • Dam face preparation uses ultra high-pressure water to remove the top layer of the dam face. About 200,000 square feet of concrete on the surface of the dam will be roughed up by this process.
  • Nighttime hauling continues between where Gross Dam Road crosses South Boulder Creek and the T-intersection by Gross Reservoir Headquarters. From 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Saturday, flaggers will direct traffic through the area.
  • Roadway improvements on Gross Dam Road began in March 2023. Activities include removing tree and brush material, roadway excavation, placement of fill materials and roadway grading. Road work on Gross Dam Road is expected to continue through fall 2023. Additional information on roadway activities and closures can be found on the project My Map.

Completed work activities:

  • Intersection improvements at Highway 72 and Gross Dam Road began in February 2023. The new intersection alignment was opened on June 26. Denver Water and its contractor, Kiewit Barnard, thank the public and neighbors for your patience during this work.
  • Onsite crusher and batch plant testing began in September 2023. This included quarrying rock, crushing rock and batching concrete – the process of mixing materials. The concrete was placed on a test structure near Osprey Point. This trial allowed Kiewit Barnard to fine-tune the operation before concrete placements to raise the dam begin in 2024.

 

You can see the most up-to-date information, including public access, road closures and blasting activities, on the map below.

Tips on how to use the map for desktop and laptop users:

  • To zoom in/out on the map: Press the + or – buttons on the bottom left side of the map or double click an area on the map.
  • To see additional details on a line or pin on the map: Click the item and a box on the left side of the map will appear with additional information.
  • To move around the map: Using your mouse, click and hold while moving your mouse to move map.

The video below provides an update on recent construction activities at Gross Reservoir.  

What is next?

Image