Bridge Girder Installaion to Close US 36 Near 80th Avenue Next Week

March 10, 2011 - TRAFFIC ADVISORY - Denver Metro Colorado/CDOT Region 6 - WESTMINSTER– Next week, March 14th through March 17th, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will install bridge girders for the new 80th Avenue bridge over US 36.

The work will require a full closure of eastbound and westbound US 36 for four nights, weather permitting.

“Over the last several months, we have been constructing the bridge substructure and completing some work on 80^th Avenue,” said CDOT Project Engineer Jason Lucerna. “With this work nearly complete, we can begin the construction of the bridge deck by installing girders. The girder installation will soon be followed by a bridge deck pour as well as other overhead work that will require additional full closures of US 36.”

To complete the girder installation, the following closures will be in place each night, weather permitting:

Westbound US 36 near 80th Avenue: One lane of westbound US 36 near 80th Avenue will be closed each night starting at 8 p.m. with all lanes closing at 10 p.m. All lanes of westbound US 36 will reopen by 5:30 a.m. the following day.
Eastbound US 36 near 80th Avenue: One lane of eastbound US 36 near 80th Avenue will be closed each night starting at 9 p.m. with all lanes closing at 10 p.m. All lanes of eastbound US 36 will reopen by 5 a.m. the following day.

During the closure, motorists on westbound US 36 can exit at Federal Boulevard and take 72^nd Avenue or 92^nd Avenue to Sheridan Boulevard. Motorists on eastbound US 36 can exit at Sheridan Boulevard and take 72^nd Avenue or 92^nd Avenue to Federal Boulevard.

Motorists are also reminded that 80^th Avenue over US 36 is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until approximately May 2011. The detour route for 80^th Avenue will also utilize 72^nd Avenue or 92^nd Avenue to Sheridan Boulevard or Federal Boulevard.

CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all construction signs and flaggers and to “Slow for the Cone Zone.” Fines for most infractions that occur in the work zone will be doubled.

The girder installation is part of a project that replaces the 80^th Avenue bridge over US 36. The bridge was originally constructed in 1951 and is one of Colorado’s poor bridges. When complete, the new bridge will be wider to accommodate an additional left turn lane from 80^th Avenue to Oakwood Drive and a wider sidewalk. The new bridge will also have greater vertical clearance and will be longer to accommodate the future widening of US 36.

Structures, Inc. is the contractor for this $7 million project being funded by CDOT and the City of Westminster. 80^th Avenue is expected to reopen around May 2011 and the entire project will be complete by the end of August 2011.

For more information about the project, visit http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/80thAve_US36. To receive the monthly flyers and other updates throughout the project, sign up for e-mail alerts at www.coloradodot.info. Click on the logo in the upper right-hand corner below the search function and choose 80^th Avenue at US 36 under projects. You may also choose to sign up for other lists based on your needs and interests.