The Glenwood post., 1918-11-02
Plan of Constructing Permanent High
ways Presents Many Obstacles
Which Are Gradually Overcome
THE GLENWO0O CANON ROAD

Working into Glenwood Springs from
the west is the through road to Grand
junction and all western coast points,
splendid highway today straight
through to the Utah boundary
From Glenwood there is a road which
diverges to the southeast, the present
boundary of which may be termed Asp
en-, although construction work which
has been carried on throughout the
summer has now carried the terminus
to Independence, Il mining camp stu.
ated at the foot of Mount Hope, one Of
the highest hills extending from tho
collegiate range.
Cutting directly west toward Dotsero,
Gypsum and Eagle is the Glenwood
canon road. These are the three high
ways leading from Glenwood Springs
and every one of them is of vital i'm
portance to the state at large, since
they afford the only highway mediums
of transportation between the western
slope and Denver and points throughout
eastern Colorado.
Today the Glenwood canon route 10
the only through route across the range
into Glenwood Springs. 1t is possible,
Of course, to 60 around by way of Gum
nison, on down to Montrose, Delta and
to Grand Junction, returning to Glen
wood, but such a route is longer by
hundreds Of miles and is not practical
in an era when speed and time are con-
sidered as factors of primary import
ance.
So it remains for the state highway
department to make this link running
from Buena Vista via Leadville and
Gilman on to Eagle and so to Glenwood
Springs, main artery of solid road
constructed on good grades and pa ssa-
ble for as many months in the year IS
possible in order that the merchant
travelling out of Denver or the western
slope resident coming, here for his sup
plies, shall be able to negotiate the
as many months of the year as possible.
Here the construction of the Glen
wood Springs canon road plays its i'm
portant part
For years the road through the canon
was mere trail, passable only under
favorable conditions, always slow, and
combining stiff grades with continu-
Gus link of mudholes formed by the
everlasting seepage from the sidewalks
of the hills.
Because of this condition through
travel was only attempted where abso.
lutely necessary and to all intents and
purposes Glenwood Springs with the
rich section behind it to the west, was
cut off from travel despite the fact that
the entire district has much to offer
the tourist.
So the improvement was undertaken.
Glenwood is box canon with precipi-
tous sidewalks and huge cliffs towering
to great heights with the river rushing
through it and the railroad on one side.
and the problem was a serious one.
To build this road meant the expend-
iture of thousands upon thousands Of
dollars. 1t meant blasting of cliffs,
clearing out accumulated dead brush Of
years standing, drainage of innumerable
gullys-all that presents an unpleasant
outlook for the roadman.
But the work was essential and IL
was undertaken. Today the convict
crew employed on the job has all but
passed the most difficult construction,
and by the end Of next year, war con.
ditions not proving too onerous, the
road will have been improved out int
the open.
From Glenwood the traveller will thea
be able to proceed all the way 70 Battle
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