Contractor Overcomes Construction Challenges to Help Displaced Homeowners
Mike Porcaro | CONEXPO-CON/AGG
To better quality of life to residents of the Front Range, several contractors including, Gerrard Excavating, were hired by Larimer County to repair local roads. Gerrard worked on CR47, a county route wiped out after the south fork of the Little Thompson River flooded displacing 200 area homeowners.
Like the others, this job was not an easy one. “The main thing about CR47 was getting the road built quickly to create access for the residents,” Gerrard said. Plotting the position of the pre-flood road with Google earth satellite images, Gerrard built a new road using boulders covered with sand and gravel to create low water stream crossings where necessary.
In just three weeks, working six days per week, sixteen hours per day, Gerrard created a “pioneer road” so owners could return to their homes. Within three months, the roadway was completely rebuilt to its former elevation and width.
The process was repeated in nearby Waltonia Canyon where 100 homeowners were displaced because the main road was destroyed. Gary Gerrard is quick to thank the Colorado DOT and contractor Kiewit Construction, who rebuilt US 34, a key access point. “We couldn’t have gotten Waltonia built without their efforts.”
A humble man, Gerrard praises all contractors that played key roles. “This is a collaborative effort with many companies willing to help.” Todd Juergens, the county’s senior construction manager, agrees. “An incredible amount of work went into making this happen. It was difficult conditions. Access was difficult, and it was a really short amount of time to get the work done.”
Work was difficult, but completed quickly and without incident or complaint by the contractors. They helped the community to get on track improving quality of life to those living on the Northern Range.
“Gerrard Excavating is proud to be part of the Northern Front Range area,” a message on the company’s website says. “Since our inception over 30 years ago, we have been committed to the quality and well-being of the community in which we operate.”
“My philosophy is that I live here and I’ve made a living here for a long time,” Gary Gerrard said. “We want to give back to the community.”
Residents of the Front Range certainly agree that they have benefitted from Gerrard Excavating’s effort to improve their lives.
Source: CONEXPO-CON/AGG
