Glenwood Caverns – New Decline Tunnel Installation
Client: JMB Properties (Glenwood Caverns)
Location: Garfield County, Colorado, United States

MES provided survey, design, and construction for surface excavation of a road and tunnel portal cut and an underground decline tunnel to provide tourist access to these historic caves above Glenwood Springs. MES had to Drill & Blast about 160 feet of 8’x 8’ tunnel to access the cave. Underground and surface rock bolting and rockfall netting for the tunnel portal was also provided. Drilling and blasting were complicated by very challenging open karst cavities in the high-angled limestone beds, the location of the site above I-70, and the need to protect fragile cave formations from blast damage. To facilitate the latter, MES constructed a set of airlock doors in the tunnel so that there would not be a rapid change of moisture or temperature prior to breakthrough into the caverns.