Faster Funding Directed to Repairs on Critical Culvert in Grand Junction

MESA COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation continues its efforts to repair or replace critical culverts across the state. A culvert repair project in Grand Junction moves forward with *FASTER funding. Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation & Economic Recovery, or SB 09-128, took effect on July 1, 2009, and is comprised of car rental fees and weight-based vehicle registration fees.

The project, which began Monday and is scheduled for completion by May 1, involves repairs on a 60-inch steel corrugated culvert under US 50 at Unaweep Avenue, just south of the city (at Duck Pond Park). The work consists of installing a specially fitted fiberglass liner inside the steel culvert, utility locates (that will involve roadway pot-holing), under-highway boring and construction of a new inlet structure and other drainage improvements.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS – Initially, motorists may experience a single-lane closure as crews locate utilities under the roadway surface. Through the remainder of the project, very minimal traffic impacts are expected.

This project has received approximately $450,000 in FASTER funding and was contracted to Heyl Civil Construction of New Castle. Other projects in the area set to be fully or partially funded by FASTER include:  I-70 B reconstruction (currently underway); I-70 Clifton interchange improvements (complete); and US 6 intersection at SH 139 (to begin in 2012).

*Monies collected under the FASTER Safety Fund are to be used for construction, reconstruction, or maintenance projects that the Transportation Commission, a county or municipality determine are needed to enhance the safety of a state highway, county road, or city street. www.coloradodot.info/projects/faster.)

For information about other CDOT projects, the public may log on to CDOT’s traveler information web site at www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state.