Castle Creek Bridge (SH 82) Repair Project Set to Begin April 4
ASPEN – The Colorado Department of Transportation’s project to repair the Castle Creek Bridge on SH 82 set to begin with some preliminary work underneath the bridge on Monday, April 4 Work that impacts SH 82 travel into and out of Aspen will begin Monday, April 11, weather permitting.
The work, awarded to ABCO Contracting of Denver for $664,000, will make repairs to the 50-year-old bridge’s surface and sub-structure. Specifically, the project will include removal of the bridge’s asphalt surface and an inch of the underlying concrete deck; patching and resurfacing the concrete deck; installation of a waterproofing membrane; overlaying the deck with three inches asphalt; replacing the expansion joint; and making minor repairs to abutments (where bridge meets land) and piers.
GENERAL TRAFFIC IMPACTS – Starting April 4, crews will mobilize equipment under the bridge and there will be minor traffic impacts on Power Plant Road. When Power Plant Road is NOT being used as the down-valley detour (after April 11), there periodically will be single-lane, alternating traffic at the location of the equipment. Starting April 11, when work on the Castle Creek Bridge begins, both UP- and D0WN-VALLEY lanes on SH 82 will REMAIN OPEN WITH NO IMPACTS UNTIL 9 AM each morning, Monday through Friday.
Up-Valley Remains on SH 82 (Starting April 11): Up-valley traffic, after 9 AM each weekday, will remain on the bridge but experience delays due to periodic traffic stops for construction equipment, buses and other large vehicles using the bridge. There will likely be some periodic traffic stops on weekends.
Down-Valley Traffic Detour (Starting April 11): Down-valley traffic, after 9 AM each weekday, will be detoured onto Power Plant Road to Cemetery Lane then back onto SH 82 (a detour of less than one mile); traffic slowing and delays should be expected (detour will still be in place for afternoon commute). There will likely be a 24-hour down-valley detour on the weekends. *RFTA BUSES and TRACTOR TRAILERS will NOT use detour but will be staged at bridge and then flagged across (please see map, below).
Bicycles &
Pedestrians: It’s spring and if walking or pedaling is the
preferred method to commute to Aspen, using the Marolt Trail during the
bridge repair—or taking RFTA buses—is highly recommended. The Marolt
Trail runs from the mining museum parking lot along Castle Creek and
connects at 7th and Hopkins. The detour is around 1/3-mile long, and a
much safer, less congested route for cyclists and pedestrians (please
see map, below).
CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION:
CDOT offers a variety of sources for drivers to obtain information or
ask questions regarding construction and traffic for the roads impacted
by construction.
- BEST WAY TO GET MOST UP-TO-DATE INFO!! Sign up for E-mail or wireless updates on www.coloradodot.info (choose the green phone icon in the upper right-hand corner of the home page; choose from the projects list, “State Highway 82 Aspen”)
- Log onto: http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/SH82 for updates
- Call the construction information line at (970) 300-2283
- Write to the project’s public information e-mail at: [email protected]
The safety of the traveling public and on-site highway workers is the highest priority. Motorists are urged to drive slowly and stay alert in and around the work zone, obey all posted speed limit signs, and plan for extra time during the daily commute. Down-valley motorists should take extra care to drive considerately along the detour route, where residences will be impacted.
Thank you for going “Slow for the Cone Zone!” To get information about other CDOT projects, the public may call 511, log onto CDOT’s traveler information site at www.cotrip.org or sign up to receive e-mails or text messages via CDOT’s site (see above).
