CDOT wraps up project to upgrade truck “weigh-in-motion” scales in Colorado – work at Loma now underway

STATEWIDE – The Colorado Department of Transportation is wrapping up a project to replace (and upgrade) “weigh-in-motion” scales at four ports of entry in Colorado.  The final installation location is currently underway on eastbound I-70 at Loma. Weigh-in-motion scales allow truckers to save time and money by bypassing ports of entry nationwide in states where these scales exist.

To use the weigh-in-motion scales, truckers participate in PrePass, an automatic vehicle identification (AVI) system that enables participating transponder-equipped commercial vehicles to be pre-screened throughout the nation at designated weigh stations, port-of-entry facilities and agricultural interdiction facilities.(A few states have systems other than PrePass.) Cleared vehicles are then able to "bypass" the facility while traveling at highway speed, eliminating the need to stop.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS: The scales are installed under the highway surface in the state’s inbound, right lane at ports of entry. CDOT’s work on I-70 at Loma is requiring a right-lane closure, 24/7, starting today through Wednesday, February 2.

The current project involves removal of 300 feet of asphalt pavement in the right lane and replacement with about 12 inches of concrete. The new scale will be installed, along with various other pavement sensors, about four inches below the surface.

“The new scales will be much easier to maintain,” said Dave Judy, an engineer with CDOT’s Intelligent Transportation Systems division. “Among other features, they come in four bending plates that weigh much less than the previous 4,400-lb scale.”

Four port of entry sites will have been upgraded with the completion of work at this Loma site. (There are nine ports of entry locations in Colorado.) Sturgeon Electric was awarded an $800,000 contract for the entire project. Scales were replaced on I-76 at Fort Morgan, I-25 at Monument and US 50/US 287 in Lamar.

For information on other CDOT projects, the public may log on to CDOT’s traveler information site at www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state. The public can also sign up on CDOT’s web site (www.coloradodot.info) to receive e-mail and/or wireless text alerts about highway conditions in a chosen area.