Glenwood Canyon, Colorado - a drive through its tunnels along Interstate 70

Glenwood Canyon is about 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of Denver, Colorado. It's an extremely scenic area that's transited by thousands of motorists each and every day.

Yes, the 25 kilometre (16 miles) drive through Glenwood Canyon is one of the most beautiful on the planet. Nevertheless, many of us fought the road's construction in the early 1980s. Some of the reasons for this were because we believed the road to be environmentally damaging to the canyon, a waste of money and resources (both for building the road and the gasoline that would be used by the huge increase in traffic), and pretty much an eyesore adding to the railroad tracks, powerhouses and other junk already cluttering the canyon.

Anyway, the environmental actions lost in court and huge construction project that was started in 1984 was completed sometime around 1992.

The irony and sadness in all of this is that as much fun as the drive through Glenwood Canyon can be it's clear that this and other joyrides isn't going to last much longer. There simply isn't enough fuel, money, and construction material to keep these kinds of projects viable in the future. Just a year before I recorded this video gasoline prices went well above $4.50 per gallon in all of the town along Interstate 70. The state of Colorado, and the United State government, were entering an era of such huge budget deficits they weren't even sure they could maintain the current road system let along construction new highways.

So, here it is in 2009 with state governments (especially big ones like California) going broke, energy isn't getting any cheaper, and most of our roads and bridges are in poor repair. Those wild-eyed environmentalists back in the 70s and 80s were right - Glenwood Canyon and other superhighways should never have been built!

Here's my personal web page about Peak Oil:
http://www.rogerwendell.com/fossilfuels.html

Here's my page about the state I love most:
http://www.rogerwendell.com/colorado.html

08/08/2009

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• glenwood
• canyon
• interstate
• 70
• colorado
• wasteful
• peak
• oil
• transportation
• environmental
• destruction

[PennHoo]

This would make driving a pleasure. 

[zeekzilch]

@PennHoo

It's considered one of the most scenic drives in the country. Unfortunately I grew a little too familiar with it from so much commuting between Denver and the western slope!

[delhoose]

Wow, it sure doesn't look like anything here in Louisiana. I thought that tunnel was never going to end. The scenery is beautiful.

[zeekzilch]

@delhoose

Thank you for the nice comment! I've been to Louisiana and enjoyed it as well.

[DeafCub2000]

I remember Glenwood Canyon and I-70, My mom used to drive there in 1992 and 1993 when I went to Aspen Camp that summer. the view are so beautiful when I got to look at it while driving long way from Colorado Springs ( which stop by in Lakewood to see my aunt and uncle for bit before off to Aspen Camp)

[zeekzilch]

@DeafCub2000

It sounds like you've have some good experiences in Colorado!

[DeafCub2000]

@zeekzilch true. Hope I can go  back there again sometime

[zeekzilch]

@luvumo2day

Okay!

[luvumo2day]

, passing in a tunnel, what ,you in a big hurry,running out of film,had to pee! take your time and enjoy the views genuis!

[zeekzilch]

@SuperBingo21

Thanks!