US 160 Grandview Interchange - Final Phase of Construction Underway
LA PLATA COUNTY – The final phase of construction is underway to complete a fully functional interchange on US 160 in Grandview, east of Durango. The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Kiewit Infrastructure Company of Littleton began this final phase in late March and work will continue through October 2011. The project was contracted to Kiewit for $6.5 million.
CURRENT WORK: The work zone is located on US160 between mile post 88 and 90, east of Durango; major work items include:
- Interchange earthwork on north side (for interchange ramps)
- Drainage (storm and sewer)
- Paving (asphalt ramps, concrete roundabout)
- Guardrail
- Signing
- Striping
- Lighting
- Access road construction
DAYTIME TRAVEL IMPACTS: Construction work hours are 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday-Friday; Saturday work may be required as the project progresses. Impacts to US 160 traffic are minimal.
NIGHT WORK WEEK OF APRIL 18 - April 18 through 22, weather permitting, night work consisting of drainage crossings will require single lane closures and some brief traffic stops from 10 PM to 3 AM.
PROJECT CONTACT: Jason Cottrell ([email protected]), Kiewit Infrastructure Co.,
Construction Public Information Officer, 970-382-3000.
PREVIOUS CONSTRUCTION PHASES: The first phase of interchange and highway widening was contracted to low-bidder SEMA Construction for $26.7 million. Included in that project cost were the construction and paving of a fourth lane (2/3 of a mile long), four interchange bridges, six highway retaining walls, sub-structure work for two interchange ramps, earthwork for a 2,020-linear foot shared-use path, path retaining walls, a new signal at Farmington Hill, highway lighting, landscaping enhancements, wetlands mitigation, drainage improvements traffic control, signing and striping. (The total cost of the main overpass bridge is $6 million, including design and construction.)
The second project phase began in September 2009 and was completed in May 2010. It was constructed for a cost of $4 million, funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and was contracted to low-bidder SEMA Construction. The project included construction of the 1,200 foot-long Ramp B, construction of a portion of the south-side access road, and construction of four retaining walls—two above and two below. (Ramp B connects the main overpass bridge to eastbound US 160 and provides additional connectivity to properties and businesses via the south-side frontage road.)
NEXT STEPS TOWARDS A FUTURE CONNECTION OF US 550 TO US 160: The Federal Highway Administration is requiring that a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) be completed to determine a connection for US 550 at US 160 in Grandview. This SEIS will revisit only the alignment and connection of US 550 to US 160, not the entire US 160 corridor (alternatives being considered are shown on the next page). CDOT and FHWA will supplement the existing 2006 EIS to address the newly identified impacts to historic and archaeological sites and any other changes related to the connection of US 550—both natural and manmade, including regulatory. The SEIS is now underway and is expected to wrap up in the spring of 2012.
Once a Draft SEIS is prepared, there will be a public hearing held in the fall, followed by a public comment period (notice will be sent via media outlets, CDOT web site, postcard to property owners within and near Grandview). Then a Final EIS will be prepared, and a Record of Decision will be made by the FHWA on a US 550 connection with US 160.
CDOT PROJECT INFORMATION: For information on other CDOT projects statewide, the public may log on to www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state. Or, log onto CDOT’s web site at www.coloradodot.info and choose the green phone icon in the upper right-hand corner to sign up for free e-mail and wireless messages about road conditions in any chosen area/highway.
