Castle Creek Bridge (SH 82) Repair Project Update

April 15, 2011 - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - ASPEN – The Colorado Department of Transportation’s project to repair the Castle Creek Bridge on SH 82 is underway and progressing well, though bad weather halted production on Thursday, April 14.

The project is scheduled for completion prior to the Memorial Day holiday – by May 27, 2011.

TRAVEL SAFETY MESSAGE: Motorists are urged to obey the posted speed limits for everyone’s safety; fines will be doubled for speeding through these zones. Drivers are also encouraged to use the designated outbound detour route, as traffic is given priority on this route and will run smoother that other city streets. Please go Slow for the Cone Zone and detour route for the safety of workers, nearby residents and other drivers.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS

Up-Valley Traffic Remains on SH 82 (25 mph speed limit): Up-valley traffic, after 9 AM until early evening 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 (15 mph speed limit): Down-valley traffic, after 9 AM until early evening 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). The City of Aspen has begun work on its sidewalks project along 7th Street, which may last a week or two, weather permitting.

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).

PROJECT DETAILS - 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.

GETTING 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]

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).