Wildland fires are one of the biggest threats we face in Colorado Springs, especially where our urban areas blend into wildland areas. From the Waldo Canyon Fire to the Black Forest Fire, we’ve experienced their catastrophic effects. To plan and prepare for upgraded fire protection, we’ve partnered with Colorado Springs Fire Department to identify neighborhoods that need additional water flow and storage to fight wildland fires.
The Cresta Road project in the southwest side of the city is part of this effort. We’re currently installing new portions of water mains for the neighborhoods south of Bear Creek Regional Park. The next phase of this project will include installation of additional water lines to increase water flow for fighting a wildland fire. The new pipes will also allow firefighters to access a two-million-gallon reserve water tank.
Most neighborhoods in Colorado Springs have high enough water flow to combat a structure fire, such as a house fire. But recent estimates show that a wildland fire – one that starts or moves into a forested area – requires four times more water than a structure fire. That’s partly because of the many fire engines, brush trucks and other apparatus that are required to fight those intense fires.
Installing underground infrastructure doesn’t happen overnight. We need to get under the roadway to make sure the new lines are secure and reliable for many years. To allow us to do this, the intersection at Cresta Road and Preserve Drive must be closed for the next four weeks. (Refer to the map below for detour route.)
The increased water flow to the Bear Creek Regional Park neighborhood doesn’t just serve firefighting needs. Since it’s potable water (drinking water quality), it also provides redundancy in our system, meaning that it will boost our ability to provide consistent service to this portion of the community.
In addition to serving residents in the area, the upgrades will also benefit three nearby schools: Gold Camp Elementary, Cheyenne Mountain High School and Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School. Our estimate of four weeks for this portion of the project should allow crews to re-open the road before school convenes again. If you notice other work happening in the area beyond this timeline, that will be a blend of Colorado Springs Utilities and City of Colorado Springs projects ahead of planned 2C-funded road paving.