How to Build a Road

Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster

References

[pacific]

The amount of research needed to summarize the thought process of forgotten civil engineers from decades ago is truly impressive.

[BdotNES]

I was a hazmat driver who had to go over a lot of those passes every night, no matter what the weather was. Some of the scariest shit in the world. The only time we were allowed through Eisenhower tunnel was when Loveland pass was just impassable and we would have to wait, CDOT would close the tunnel both directions and escort all hazmat trucks through without any cars in the tunnel. Pretty crazy.

[Itsmarkyoung]

I grew up taking this highway, and I was always amazed by the fact that the roadway was raised on supports for miles in such a remote canyon, it felt like driving in a video game.

[Seed]

Instructions unclear, built a runway instead.

[yibrahtsegay]

As a Highway engineer practicing in mountainous areas of the East Africa Rift Valley, I appreciate the accurate research you have done to show the amount of work that goes into designing & constructing a highway project in a challenging topography. It's amazing to see how the design standards have evolved through the years. Even though we use also use AASHTO to supplement our design, we are forced to use 8% superelevation because we couldn't be certain that the traffic would actually adhere to the design speed due to the cultural speeding in East Africa.

[mrvwbug]

The crazy part is, I-70 is considered a safer route in winter than I-80 up in Wyoming. I-80 in Wyoming had less engineering challenges, but is legendary for horrifically bad weather in winter and the section between Laramie and Rock Springs is the windiest region in the entire US excluding some high mountain summits. Hurricane force winds are a very regular occurrence in southern Wyoming. Combine that with heavy snowfall, ice, and regular below zero temps in the winter and its a frozen hell on earth.

[hgman]

The story of I-70 through Utah is another engineering marvel in an of itself, not because of the terrain, but because of how absolutely remote it is. For example, there is a stretch of interstate almost 100 miles long with absolutely no services (food and gas). The route follows an old railroad corridor which the Union Pacific railroad surveyed, but never used because of how remote it was. When the first highway surveyors showed up in the area to plan the route of the new interstate, the local ranchers thought they were absolutely nuts to build a road through the area.

[valblome]

As both a pilot and a Coloradan, this channel is the best. Great content, as always!

[skipper]

This is why I’m a civil engineer. I remember one of my professors at Colorado State telling me about the Red Buffalo Pass alternative. Every time I take Vail Pass now, I think about it, and how much different the landscape of travel across the western slope is because of it.

[grahamschuh]

I dug out the railroad tracks (UPRR) in Glennwood via high rail track hoe last summer from the mud slides that closed down sections of I-70 & trapped motorist for over a day in Glennwood tunnel.

Great video. You should make another talking about the building of that section of railroad and the challenges faced while doing so. Very neat part of logistical history

[SteveWalden]

My grandfather drove the 1940s highways through this entire region from Denver and Pueblo to Salt Lake. He remembers driving home in a blizzard, getting out, walking 20 feet or so to see where the road went, getting back in, driving that stretch, repeating the process for hours until he got to a town. That story he told freely. Other stories I had to press him to tell as much as he would and I still get chills. America's highways are soaked in red, there's just no way to avoid the fact. I'm still very proud to be a 5th generation native of Colorado and I hope I get to stay forever. Thank you @Wendoverproductions for such a deep dive into the Rockies roads. Come visit and enjoy them this fall and winter! Fly into Denver or Eagle and you're sure to have a great time!

[Aquatarkus]

I 70 through the Rockies is cool road to drive. Terrifying at times, but still incredible that a highway of that size was built through the mountains

[anothermike]

As a child, my family lived in Colorado but my grandparents lived in Utah. To visit them we either had to drive up through Wyoming on I-80 or take the I-70 route. Going through Colorado was our favorite as it was way more beautiful and fascinating even if it was a few hours longer, but after a couple of Christmas trips through terrible conditions we decided to only take I-70 in the summer. In fairness, I-80 in Wyoming has harsh winters too, with permanent checkpoints to shut it down for excessive blowing snow, but it was faster and flatter with less canyons and turns. My father would have to take enough time off from work to give us the flexibility to wait out the weather if a winter storm blocked our return trip home. It was worth it, these highways made all of my memories with my grandparents possible, and are a part of what I call home

[mattcolver]

The highway through Vail Pass is impressive, but really the most expensive and difficult section to build was through Glenwood Canyon. That section of road is essentially all bridges and tunnels.

[BilTheGalacticHero]

I-70 through Glenwood Canon is an engineering marvel and possibly the most scenic stretch of interstate in the country. I never get tired of driving though there.

[nicholasmetsavaht]

I've used this highway for 15 years and this video shed a light on all the details taken in consideration on building it, and showing why i feel so comfortable driving it, thank you for making me stop taking this road for granted

[bajasummit]

It’s amazing to see you doing so many Colorado based videos. I’ve lived here half my life, driven over I70 more times than I can count and just hearing you explain these problems and dilemmas is so cool. I’ve seen these problems first and second hand (the mud slides I experienced closer in person on highway 24 in Colorado Springs)

[donalddodson]

Thank you Wendover! This is great content and very well done. (It did make me a bit sad that I dropped out of Engineering in 1968 ...)

[Fools_Requiem]

This stretch of freeway is by far my favorite. This, followed by Donner Pass on I80 through the Sierra Nevada, and surprisingly, the ~60 mile stretch of I80 through the Salt Lake Desert.

I'm glad it exists because I hate driving through Wyoming.

[JMMRanMA]

I would like to see responses from Germany, Switzerland and Austria comparing this to their mountain road experiences. Comparison videos, possibly be collaboration would be great.