SH 13 at Railroad Ave. in Rifle Intersection Improvements Funded by FASTER, Federal Safety Funds

GARFIELD COUNTY – The project to improve safety at the intersection of SH 13 and Railroad Avenue in Rifle will extend to mid- or late-June, due to additional extensive drainage work required. The work, originally scheduled for completion by the end of May, involves a full-depth excavation that has uncovered unforeseen drainage/utility conflicts that are now being mitigated.

The project, contracted to Martinez Western Constructors of Rifle, fully reconstructs the intersection where SH 13 meets Railroad Avenue and continues south as the Rifle Bypass. The reconstruction includes from 3’ to 6’ feet of excavation in order to shift the alignment for improved sight distance and to create smoother turning movements.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: To improve traffic flow during construction, the work is being done in three phases, maintaining one lane of traffic in each direction. Traffic is being impacted with single-lane closures, 7 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Sometime in May, the shift in the work zone will temporarily prohibit left-turn movements from southbound SH 13 to southbound Railroad. When this occurs, southbound traffic will be detoured onto Whitewater. An announcement will be sent and signs will alert travelers prior to that switch. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

This intersection improvement project is being constructed for a total of about $1.25 million, which includes $750,000 in federal Hazard Elimination System (HES) Funds, and $500,000 in FASTER safety funds. FASTER (Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery), or Senate Bill 09-108, was developed to address Colorado’s structurally deficient, poor bridges and safety projects throughout the state. FASTER is funded through a rental car fee and a nominal increase in vehicle registration.

For information on other CDOT projects statewide, the public may sign up for e-mail and text alerts on CDOT’s web site (www.coloradodot.info, choose the green phone icon in the upper right-hand corner); log onto CDOT’s traveler information site at www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state.