Resurfacing Moves North on Highway 115

July 8, 2011 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - FREMONT/EL PASO COUNTIES – Rotomilling and paving operations on State Highway 115 are finished in the Florence area and are now underway north of Penrose.

Northbound and southbound traffic is running unimpeded as vehicles are shifted around the work zone from 8 a.m. to dusk, Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays.  The speed limit is reduced to 30 mph and vehicles wider than 11 feet are not permitted through the project area.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is paving the following segments of SH 115 (see attached map) over the next three months:

  • Beginning about seven miles north of Penrose and continuing north eight miles (mile 22-30.2)
  • Beginning at Big Turkey Creek and continuing north four miles  (mile 31.2-35)

This summer’s construction is part of a safety and surface improvement project that began last fall when several culverts were repaired and new bridge rail, guardrail, and signing were installed along 17 miles of SH 115, between Penrose and Little Fountain Creek.

Work during the spring consisted of paving – in Florence, between Florence and U.S. 50, and a segment north of Penrose – and the rehabilitation of two bridges.  A new deck and expansion joints were installed on the Arkansas River Bridge, east of Florence, and new joints were placed on the U.S. 50 overpass.

“This project will give the traveling public a smoother road surface that’ll last at least 10 years,” says CDOT Project Engineer James Sawaya.  “In addition, the bridge work will extend the life of those structures for several years.  Safety also is being enhanced by the new signs and striping, since they improve visibility along the highway, especially at night.”

The project is scheduled for completion in October 2011.

Rocky Mountain Materials and Asphalt of Colorado Springs, CO. is the contractor for the $3.9 million project, of which $2 million is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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