Castle Creek Bridge (SH 82) Repair Update

May 4, 2011 - PROJECT DETOUR UPDATE - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - Project detour will be in place 24/7 through this week.

ASPEN – Progress was slowed due to weather last week on bridge abutment replacement on the up-valley side (a new abutment will allow more room for expansion and contraction with the changing temperatures throughout the year.) The 24/7 detour was to be lifted by today; however, crews will need to maintain a full-time detour this week to complete the abutment work.

PROJECT DETOUR IN PLACE THIS WEEK: The down-valley traffic detour (see below) is expected to remain in place full-time through Friday, May 6, to complete abutment replacement; it is also likely to be in place through the weekend, as typical. Next Monday, May 9, the regular detour schedule will resume. CDOT regrets the additional inconvenience this work extension has caused – thank you for your patience and safe driving through the work zone and through the detour route.

REGULAR TRAFFIC IMPACTS THROUGH MAY 26

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 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 through the remainder of the project. *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).


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).