Highway Repairs Resume on Eastbound US 50 over Cerro Summit

MONTROSE COUNTY  – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) resumes a project to repair a retaining wall below the highway and improve highway condition and drainage on US 50 over Cerro Summit, 12 miles east of Montrose. Last season, contractor Tezak Heavy Equipment completed repairs to a 100-foot long section of the soil and concrete-faced retaining wall below the eastbound lanes at MP 104.3. This work involved stabilizing the wall by installing ground anchors into the section and repairing concrete facing. Drainage improvements at MP 103 are also complete.

During this second and final phase, which will be completed in July, crews will make drainage improvements at MP 105 and highway repairs at MP 108 (a 1,000-foot section) where the roadway has slipped. These major repairs will involve 16-foot deep excavation of the two eastbound lanes; placement of 12-foot deep, lightweight foam blocks for absorption; and placement of eight inches of concrete, two feet of road base material and five inches of new asphalt. The work was contracted to Tezak (of Canon City) for $3.9 million.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: In the work zones at the above mile points, the outside lane/s will be closed, but two-way traffic will be maintained around the work zone. The speed limit through the area is reduced from 50 MPH down to 45 MPH for eastbound (uphill) traffic, and down from 65 mph to 45 mph for westbound (downhill) traffic.  Motorists are urged to obey the lowered speed limit and drive with caution.

For information on other CDOT projects statewide, the public may log on to www.cotrip.org or call 511. Better yet, log onto CDOT’s web site at www.coloradodot.info and sign up to receive FREE e-mail or wireless text messages about road conditions in your chosen area.Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!