American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funded Project Underway - Final One for Northwest Region

May 4, 2011 - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - Major resurfacing project moves forward with ARRA savings. MONTROSE COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation began a project Monday, May 2, to resurface a stretch of US 550 south of Montrose.

The work will greatly improve and preserve this stretch of highway by removing and recycling (laying rejuvenated material back down) the asphalt pavement, an applying a 1.5-inch overlay of new asphalt from Colona (MP 117.4) north to Chipeta Rd. in Montrose (MP 126.3).

This resurfacing project was on the list to receive funding from the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act, should funds be available after “A list” projects were completed. Due to some contract cost savings from those initial projects, about $915,000 from ARRA will go towards funding this $5.5 million resurfacing project. The work was contracted to United Companies of Grand Junction.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS: Through the project’s completion in mid-July, motorists will encounter single-lane, alternating traffic and delays through the work zone, from 8 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday. Travel delays may be up to 15 minutes, and will vary depending upon traffic volumes and work zone length. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

In all, Colorado received ARRA funds of more than $400 million for transportation projects and $103 million for transit projects statewide. For more information on ARRA, visit www.colorado.gov/recovery. For a list of CDOT’s Recovery Act projects and additional ARRA information, visit www.dot.state.co.us/arra.