I-25 Bridge Project Underway Next Week

HUERFANO COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) begins a project next week to replace the Missouri Creek Bridge on northbound Interstate 25, about three miles north of Walsenburg.

On Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27, the left lane of southbound I-25 will be closed near the bridge site during the day so concrete barrier can be placed for the upcoming detour.  Additional project preparations will continue through mid-May.

Beginning on Monday, May 16, northbound and southbound I-25 will be reduced to a single lane in each direction for approximately ½ mile, as all northbound traffic is shifted to southbound I-25.  A reduced speed limit of 45 mph goes into effect and vehicles wider than 14 feet will not be permitted through the work zone.  Traffic is expected to remain in this configuration through August 2011.

The project is scheduled for completion in September 2011.

In addition to removing the old structure and new bridge construction, the project includes new asphalt pavement, guardrails, seeding, and mulching.

“The current bridge was built in 1934 and it’s rated in poor condition,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Doug Lollar.  “This new structure has a design life of 75 years so it’s a long-term improvement to Colorado’s highway system.  It’ll also enhance safety since the new bridge will have wider shoulders, eliminating what’s currently a narrow section.”

Lawrence Construction Co. of Littleton, Colo. is the project’s prime contractor.

The $1.7 million project is funded through the Statewide Bridge Enterprise, a government-owned business entity within CDOT.  Created as part of the FASTER (Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery) legislation, its goal is to finance, repair, reconstruct or replace any bridge designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and rated “poor” by CDOT.  Additional information is available at: www.coloradodot.info/projects/faster.

Updated information regarding traffic impacts on this or other CDOT projects is available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html or by calling 511.  To receive project updates via e-mail, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner.  The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including Southeast Colorado.