How to Build a Road
Compare news coverage. Spot media bias. Avoid algorithms. Try Ground News today and get 30% off your subscription by going to https://ground.news/wendover
Watch Jet Lag: The Game at http://youtube.com/jetlagthegame
Buy a Wendover Productions t-shirt: https://standard.tv/collections/wendover-productions/products/wendover-productions-shirt
Subscribe to Half as Interesting (The other channel from Wendover Productions): https://www.youtube.com/halfasinteresting
Youtube: http://www.YouTube.com/WendoverProductions
Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sam.from.wendover
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/WendoverPro
Sponsorship Enquiries: wendover@standard.tv
Other emails: sam@wendover.productions
Reddit: http://Reddit.com/r/WendoverProductions
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
[1] https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5279261.pdf
[2] https://www.codot.gov/programs/environmental/archaeology-and-history/assets/documents/vail-pass-historic-context.pdf#page25
[3] https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=R_U0AQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.RA1-PA18&hl=en
[4] https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5279261.pdf#page25
[5] https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/11/deadly-myth-human-error-causes-most-car-crashes/620808/
[6] https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/programmanagement/estimates/documents/cost-per-mile-model-reports/rural/rural-03.pdf?sfvrsn=1b96c6ac_4
[7] https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/design/pddm/Cover.pdf#TOC
[8] https://www.codot.gov/projects/i70westvailauxiliarylanes/assets/23982_i70_wvp_aestheticguidance_final_110421-9.pdf
The amount of research needed to summarize the thought process of forgotten civil engineers from decades ago is truly impressive.
I think it’s really really easy, with all the issues we’re facing as mankind and states, to forget what marvels of enginiering, sociology and planning our modern society is. Highways, skylanes, modern building, electrical or water infrastructure are all incredebly mundane things for us that are incredible feats of planning & design if you look closer that would be called miracles by people just one or two-hundred years ago.
We can’t be constantly in awe, and we should strive to adress the issues of our time but sometimes it’s good to remember what amazing feats our modern society is too.
I think some of the modern tunneling techniques today would not disrupt wildlife in that spot.
Yes, we should thank the people at Mead & Hunt who already did that research and published a 76-page history on the topic in 2019, entitled “Vail Pass Segment of Interstate Highway 70” and freely available online. As far as I can tell, this document serves as the source for almost all of the historical narrative presented in this video, as well as many of the figures. It’s in their works cited in the description.
I like Wendover Productions a lot, but their talent mostly comes from how they present information in a digestible manner with helpful visuals, a well as their choice of esoteric but fascinating topics. And of course it would be impossible to do extensive and original research for their videos given the rate at which they publish them. I think their research skills come more from taking aspects of a narrative and elaborating on the logistics, for example using a Florida study to understand the issues in Colorado. Obviously this isn’t hard to find, government studies are extremely easy to find and they cover every aspect of infrastructure.
@boyHowdy113well not every country has that or even do the study in the first place.
Nope. This has been very well document. I have five books on my shelf of this subject alone. Your lack of understanding does not increase the complexity of the world around you.
As both a pilot and a Coloradan, this channel is the best. Great content, as always!
Is it Coloradan or Coloridian?
Or Coloradinikan?
Instructions unclear, built a runway instead.
same here
Probasbly going to be next episode lol
Don’t translate ในอีกไม่กี่ชั่วโมงหัวใจของคุณจะเริ่มหยุดเต้น วิธีเดียวที่จะป้องกันสิ่งนี้คือการสมัครสมาชิกกับฉัน🎉
@Seedknowing how much Sam from HAI loves planes, no doubt he will make a video about runways
WHO TF ARE YOU
These videos are always so informative, but living in the mountains of Colorado always makes Sam’s videos are 10x as interesting!
I know right! It makes me feel special when he does Colorado videos or even mentions it ❤
For me its *Half As Interesting* 😉
Namaste
Being a road makes this video even better
Indeed!!! I feel like I’ve been looked after ❤
What is insane is there isn’t a commuter train, at least from Golden to Loveland ski resort. This would cut overall traffic down significantly and greatly reduce the intensity of peak traffic times.
Somehow Winter Park gets once daily ski train service and nobody else does.
@daniellewis1789 not a mystery — Winter Park was built where the train already ran — My grandma used to take the train to Winter Park to go skiing back in the early 1940s when she was a student at U of Denver.
@otsoko66 There are other resorts that plausibly could see ski service but don’t. That’s the puzzler.
Gosh how I’d love to ride a frequent train service from Denver to Frisco in the winter…
Indeed, a train service would make the trip to the ski slopes very relaxing! The ride we took from Westminster/Thornton to Copper Mountain was not bad, but took at least an hour. A train would be very convenient.
That stretch of I-70 west of Denver is probably the most beautiful stretch in the country of interstate. If you’ve never driven it, you should!
Oh yeah it’s gorgeous
@Jokes with Mitochondria i was curious about your username so clicked on ur profile. Wasn’t disappointed
The first time I drove that when moving out west was breathtaking. Glenwood Canyon to start the day, giving way to the hill after Grand Junction. Once you cross the summit you can see like 300 miles unobstructed down the Colorado Plateau. Having never left the east side of the country before that, I was not prepared.
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
the only time its terrifying is when you cant see your hood because of the snow falling. otherwise…its ok.
@Amelia Rossdifferent tolerances
@Amelia Ross I was about to suggest not visiting in winter, especially without previous winter driving experience.
I drove it yesterday. The traffic is the scary part to me.
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.
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
I agree. And the original line built up and over Rollins Pass is an incredible marvel until they built Moffatt Tunnel which is also a marvel.
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.